KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine may break off diplomatic relations with Russia after Moscow's decision to recognise two regions of eastern Ukraine as independent, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said at a briefing on Tuesday.

       Speaking alongside his Estonian counterpart, Zelenskiy said he was weighing a request from his foreign ministry to break off ties. He also urged Ukraine's allies not to wait for a further escalation to impose sanctions, which should include shutting down the Russian-led Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

       Zelenskiy played down the prospect of a large scale conflict with Russia but said he was prepared to introduce martial law if that happened.

       (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk and Natalia Zinets; writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Catherine Evans)