Columns of Russia armored Vehicles arriving in Belarus for drill

Separatists rebel in eastern Ukraine have also been invited for the drill

Russian troops arrived in Belarus for snap military drills, as Moscow hosted Germany's foreign minister for the latest talks over fears of an invasion of Ukraine.

More than a week of negotiations between Russia and the West have done little to ease worries raised by the massing of tens of thousands of Russian troops on Ukraine's borders.

Adding to the tensions, Russia and Ukraine's neighbor Belarus launched a wave of military exercises, with video published by the Belarusian defense ministry showing columns of military vehicles including tanks being unloaded from trains blanketed in snow

Ukraine, the United States and the European Union have all raised deep concerns over the Russian troop build-up, despite repeated denials from Moscow that an invasion is planned.

Moscow has instead accused the United States and NATO of ignoring Russia's security concerns, and demanded that the security alliance permanently bar membership to Ukraine.