British ambassador to Ukraine says a wholly unprovoked attack on a peaceful country Ukraine is unfolding.

• Breaking: NATO has officially told Reuters that an official invasion of Ukraine has begun

The comments follow Reuters reporting that Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a military operation in eastern Ukraine on Thursday in what could be the start of the war in Europe over Russia's demands for an end to NATO's eastward expansion.

Meanwhile, US president Joe Biden has said Putin is responsible for the human suffering as a consequence to come and he will speak to the American population tomorrow. US President Biden promises "further consequences" for Russia.

This comes as Reuters witnesses are reporting explosions head in Kyiv and in the Belgorod Province of Russia. 

The events of today have sent GBP/USD to fresh lows of 1.3511 so far: