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Poroshenko has revealed images of what he claims are tanks lining up along the border, close to where Russia stores its ammunition, reports Sky News.

He said: "This is the tank base just [11 miles] from our border, this was happening in September, October, and now."

The Ukrainian leaders revelations come as he was begging NATO for help amid fears of a "full scale war" with Russia.

Fears of an attack have loomed following clashes which saw Russia open fire upon and then seize three Ukrainian ships over the Kerch Strait.

Russia have denied any wrongdoing or aggressive intent, and instead blamed Ukraine of carrying out a "provocation".

Poroshenko said: "There is no red line for Putin and this is the very strong reason why we should be together, the whole civilised world.

"Not only the leaders, with whom a very reliable partnership, but the people of UK, of Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, the whole civilised world would be together and this is very important for global security."

Martial law has been imposed in the former Soviet state amid fears of attack, with the president saying he believes Putin wants to annex Ukraine.

Putin had been set to meet with US President Donald Trump this weekend, but the White House abruptly cancelled the meeting citing the ongoing tensions.

(Image: GETTY)

(Image: REUTERS)

Crimea was annexed from Ukraine in an operation by Russia back in 2014, with the move being condemned as illegal by the US and the West.

Since then Putin has been staking his claim on the Black Sea peninsula as he moves military forces into the region.

Russia also constructed a gigantic bridge across the Kerch Strait which links vital trading routes in the landlocked Sea of Azov to the Black Sea.

Moscow also revealed it had moved S-400 missile defence systems into Crimea today to defend the region from any aerial attack.

(Image: TASS) (Image: TASS)

NATO vessels regularly patrol the region following the annexation, and have occasionally clashed with Russia.

Ukraine's calls for help from the Western alliance have so far not been heeded – aside from NATO saying Kiev has their "full support".

Poroshenko asked for warships from the West to be sailed into the Black Sea, and also urged Turkey to seal off the Bosphorus Strait.

Britain is due to send a Royal Navy vessel into the Black Sea in a show of solidarity with Ukraine – with calls for the UK to send a Type-45 destroyer.

(Image: DS)

Trump tweeted from Air Force One shortly after he took-off to head for this weekend's upcoming G20 summit in Argentina.

Roughly an hour earlier, he had told reporters he would probably meet with Putin at the summit and said it was "a very good time to have the meeting."

His announcement appeared to catch Moscow by surprise, with Russian officials getting their first news of it from the media.

The US President based his move on advice from senior advisers who have taken a harsher tone toward Russia than he has

(Image: GETTY)

Russia and the West have been at loggerheads this year over the ongoing row over Crimea, military build-up on the borders of Europe, Putin’s intervention in Syria, the poisoning of the Skripals, and allegations of interference in the US elections.

Royal Navy brass Admiral Lord West said the latest incident in the Sea of Azov looks to be Putin testing the West and seeing “what he can get away with”.

Seizing the vital waterway will also bolster the Ukrainian rebels fighting in the Donbass, with forces there likely supported by Russia

Daily Star Online previously revealed how the Sea of Azov incident could lead to all out war between Russia and the West.