Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's press secretary (Photo: TASS)

At a meeting with staff and students at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that sending a peace keeping mission to Ukraine could trigger 'direct clashes' between Russia and NATO.

The same day, an agreement was reached to send aid to and evacuate civilians trapped in combat areas through nine "humanitarian corridors", the press office of the Ukrainian President said. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said humanitarian corridors have been established to evacuate civilians from three towns in southern Ukraine, from four areas around Kiyv, from the city of Mariupol in southeastern Ukraine, and from the eastern town of Rubizhne.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the Defense Ministry operates humanitarian corridors every day for civilians to leave their places of residence.