Russia has begun evacuating diplomatic staff from all of its diplomatic facilities in Ukraine, the state-owned TASS news agency reported. 

Citing a representative of Russia's embassy in Kyiv, TASS said the evacuations had begun Wednesday. The development came after Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a tweet earlier in the day that evacuations would begin "soon."

On Tuesday, the ministry said it had made the decision to pull its diplomatic staff from Ukraine "to take care of Russian diplomats and employees of the Embassy and Consulates General."

Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul warned in an interview on NBC's "TODAY" show that the steps taken by the West to respond to Russia are not enough to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

Asked what the U.S. and NATO have in their arsenal to respond to Russia, McFaul said, "Tragically, let's be honest, not very much."

McFaul said President Joe Biden has ruled out going to war with Russia and said he has played his cards well. Sanctions are coming, which McFaul said will be "difficult" for the Russian economy. The U.S. has given military assistance to the Ukrainians and has bolstered NATO's frontline forces, he added. 

"But having said all that, that is not enough to deter Putin," he said. "Tragically, I think he's going to go in, and he's going to go in big, and this will probably be the largest war in Europe since 1939."

As the West announced heavy sanctions against Russia, condemning its decision to formally recognize the independence of two separatist regions and send troops into the area, officials from other nations made their way to Moscow, with Sudan looking to "advance relations."

On Wednesday, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the deputy head of Sudan's ruling council, said in a tweet that he hoped to strengthen ties with Russia as he headed to Moscow in the latest in a string of foreign trips. 

Widely known as Hemedti, Dagalo made the trip as Russia faced condemnation and heavy sanctions from the West after recognizing the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and ordering troops into the area.

"Through this visit, we hope to advance relations between Sudan and Russia to broader horizons, and strengthen the existing cooperation between us in various fields," Dagalo said in a tweet Wednesday, according to a translation by Reuters. 

Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was set to leave Wednesday for a two-day visit to Russia. Pakistan's foreign office said he was visiting on the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

Faisal Javed Khan, a senator in Pakistan and a member of the ruling Tehreek-e-Insaf party, said in a tweet that the meeting would "review the entire array of relations (between) the two countries," including on energy cooperation and trade.

Calling the trip a "game-changer," he said it was the first visit by a serving Pakistani prime minister to Russia in more than 20 years.

Vladimir Putin attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall to mark the Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow on Wednesday.

China said Wednesday that it would not join the U.S. and other Western countries in sanctioning Russia over its actions in Ukraine.

"Sanctions have never been a fundamentally effective way to solve problems," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Wednesday. "China always opposes any illegal unilateral sanctions."

Hua repeated Beijing's earlier for all parties to exercise restraint and try to resolve the dispute through dialogue and negotiation.

Ukraine is on track to impose a state of emergency across the country, excluding the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, where a special regime is already in place.

Speaking on Wednesday, Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the Nation Security and Defense Council, said that after a "lively" discussion, the council decided to push forward with the decision. 

"According to our legislation, the Council must approve this decision within 48 hours," he said.

If given final approval by Parliament, a state of emergency would be imposed on all territories of the country, except Donetsk and Luhansk, the two separatist regions Russia recognized as independent on Monday.

It is unclear exactly what measures would be enforced under the state of emergency. Danilov suggested it would depend on the situation in each territory.

On Wednesday, Ukraine's Parliament voted in favor of a draft law to give permission for civilians to carry firearms for self-defense, in the first reading of the proposed legislation.

Ukraine's border service has announced additional restrictions in border areas with Russia. 

In a statement Wednesday, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine said the restrictions would block traffic except for certain vehicles, including those belonging to the military, law enforcement agencies and agricultural machinery on unofficial roads leading to the border. 

The restrictions will also block people from staying at the border at night, with traffic for non-military vehicles also limited during the night time.

The border service noted that regular measures have also been introduced restricting the stay of foreigners in the border zone, as well as the use of radio stations and flights of light and unmanned aerial vehicles. 

Restrictions have also been imposed on filming and photography of personnel and facilities of the border service, it said.

A satellite image dated Feb. 21 and released by commercial satellite company Maxar appears to show a new Russian troop deployment near Belgorod in western Russia, near the Ukraine border. NBC News cannot verify the image.

Ukraine's Parliament has approved sanctions on 351 Russians, including lawmakers who have supported Russia's decision to recognize the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and send troops there. 

The sanctions are heavily restrictive and include bans on entry into Ukraine, in addition to prohibiting access to assets, capital, property and licenses for business. The security council was expected to impose the sanctions after the vote. 

It comes as Ukraine called on its allies to impose further penalties after the U.S. and allies announced fresh sanctions over Russian President Vladimir Putin's recognition of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People’s Republic" and "Luhansk People’s Republic."

Pope Francis said Wednesday that the threat of war in Ukraine has caused "great pain in my heart" as he urged politicians to make a serious examination of conscience before God about their actions.

In comments made at the end of his weekly general audience, Francis implored leaders to refrain from making choices that could lead to further suffering, according to a translation by Reuters.

He also proclaimed Ash Wednesday, March 2, as an international day of fasting and prayer for peace.