NATO members and leaders of western nations are converging for an emergency meeting on Thursday to determine the next phase of action against Russia over the invasion of Ukraine.

US officials have warned that the ongoing war in Ukraine is entering an uncertain but bloody stretch.

CNN quoted some US officials as saying there would be announcements on new sanctions, NATO force posture and military assistance to Ukraine at the meeting.

According to the news agency, representatives from the US and European governments spent days leading up to the summit in intensive conversations finalizing steps for leaders to unveil following their talks.

However, the NATO leaders will not give in to embattled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s repeatedly request for a no-fly zone to be enforced over Ukraine.

US and NATO officials have repeatedly said that such a move would risk provoking President Vladimir Putin and sparking a wider war with Russia.

Western allies have also found it difficult to take more aggressive steps, such as providing Russian-made fighter jets to Ukraine or deciding to cut themselves off from Russian energy supplies, which could potentially cripple Russia’s economy.