Russian envoy to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov speaks to the media. File photo

Russia will “respond” if Russian citizens start being killed anywhere, including in Ukraine's rebel Donbass region, Russia's RIA news agency cited Russian envoy to the European Union, Vladimir Chizhov, as saying on Tuesday.

"We will not invade Ukraine unless we are provoked to do that," Chizhov said. "If the Ukrainians launch an attack against Russia, you shouldn't be surprised if we counterattack. Or, if they start blatantly killing Russian citizens anywhere — Donbass or wherever."

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US says Russia may create pretext to attack Ukraine

The Moscow-backed rebels say the Kyiv government is preparing an offensive against them, while Ukraine says Russia, which has amassed over 100,000 troops close to Ukrainian borders, is planning to invade its neighbour.

Meanwhile, Germany on Tuesday called on Russia to withdraw its troops around Ukraine, as Chancellor Olaf Scholz readied to meet President Vladimir Putin over the crisis.

"The situation is particularly dangerous and can escalate at any moment," Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in a statement, ahead of the talks in Moscow between the two leaders. "The responsibility for de-escalation is clearly with Russia, and it is for Moscow to withdraw its troops."