Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanks Turkish President Erdogan 'for his initiative to become a mediator between Ukraine and Russia' during a joint press conference in Kyiv, as EU leaders step up outreach to the Kremlin to defuse fears Moscow could invade. The diplomatic offensive comes as Russia accuses the United States of ratcheting up "tensions" by sending 1,000 soldiers to Romania and 2,000 to Poland to bolster NATO's eastern flank. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES