KIEV — Ukraine's Armed Forces announced on Wednesday that reservists are being called for military service.

"Reservists from 18 to 60 years of age will be eligible for the draft," the Armed Forces said in a statement released on Facebook. Drafted personnel will serve for one year.

It is unclear yet how many reservists will be drafted. The government in Keiv also called on the West on Wednesday to impose further sanctions on Russia, urging allies to "hit more. Hit hard. Hit now." They have also urged their nationals in Russia to "leave immediately".

Russian President Vladimir Putin repeated meanwhile that Moscow remains "open to direct and honest dialogue to find diplomatic solutions to the most complex problems."

Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, chaired by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, recommended declaring a state of emergency. Parliament now needs to approve it.

The UK, EU and US announced a raft of sanctions against economic, political, military, business and media sectors. They all stressed this is just the beginning and more sanctions would be imposed if Russia invades further. The EU is to announce further sanctions on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Russian Embassy spokesman in Kiev Denis Golenko confirmed to AFP that the evacuation is under way. The Russian flag was no longer flying on the roof of the Russian representation in the Ukrainian capital and several people were coming out with suitcases.

Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergei Nechaev regretted German decision on Nord Stream 2. "We regret that Germany is going to suspend the certification of Nord Stream 2 because before that, Germany also stated that the gas pipeline is a commercial, purely economic project and has nothing to do with politics," Nechaev, said on Twitter.

He blamed the decision on "active pressure of overseas colleagues". "Nord Stream 2 is necessary first and foremost for Europe's energy security; the German economy and population, and Europe," he added.

"We hope that this announcement is a temporary measure and that prudence and pragmatism will eventually prevail," he concluded.

Also, ambassadors from member states are currently meeting to discuss additional sanctions, the French presidency of the EU has announced.

The Council is then expected to approve them so they can be published in the Official Journal later in the day. "Entry into force of the sanctions upon their publication," the French presidency said.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said at PMQs that the UK would soon provide a further package of military support to Ukraine including defensive weapons in addition to non-lethal aid.

Opposition leader Keir Starmer criticized the UK government's sanctions on Russia, asking when tougher sanctions would be imposed. Johnson said there is more to come and "we will be stopping Russia from raising sovereign debt". He added there was "still hope" that Putin would "see sense".

Meanwhile, Germany will be able to go without Russian natural gas if necessary, the country’s minister of economy and climate said. "Yes, it can," confirmed Robert Habeck on German public radio in response to a question about going without Russian gas, on which it is heavily dependent.

It came a day after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced they would suspend the certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline after Moscow recognized the self-proclaimed pro-Russian republics in eastern Ukraine.

If Berlin were to give up Russian gas completely one day, this would first result in "a big gap" to be filled in the energy market, with the consequence of "first driving up the price" of gas.

But in the end, the gas purchased from Gazprom could be "compensated" by other suppliers and energy sources, Habeck said.

Germany has sent an additional 350 troops to Lithuania over the past few days, the Ministry of Defense said. "The alliance stands together — we act as one in the alliance and within the EU. For us it is clear: we rely on credible deterrence," it added.

Lithuania is one of four EU countries that have a NATO Enhance Forward presence on its territory alongside fellow Baltic nations Latvia and Estonia as well as Poland.

However, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters on Tuesday that Putin's "plan all along has been to invade Ukraine, to control Ukraine and its people, to destroy Ukraine's democracy."

He also announced that a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, scheduled on Feb. 24 has been canceled, arguing Moscow is not serious about diplomacy.

"It does not make sense to go forward with that meeting at this time. I consulted with our allies and partners, all agreed," he said.

It comes after the US, UK, and EU unveiled sanctions against Russian individuals and entities on Tuesday in response to Putin's recognition of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic — two separatist-held areas in eastern Ukraine — and his announcement that troops would be sent in on "peacekeeping duties." — Euronews