- Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to send troops to eastern Ukraine.
- According to a decree signed by the head of the Moscow Kremlin, the units will work to ensure peace in the “Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics”, which are now recognized by Moscow as independent states.
- Then the European Union and the United States announced sanctions against Russia.
Russian President Putin has recognized Luhansk and Donetsk regions in eastern Ukraine as independent “people’s republics”. The head of the Kremlin signed a similar decree, as shown by state television. Putin says he is confident that the Russian people will support his decision.
At the same time, he concluded a “friendship and assistance” agreement with representatives of the two pro-Russian breakaway republics. This makes it possible for Russian soldiers to be stationed there.
Pro-Russian separatist leaders in the two regions had previously asked Putin to help fight Ukrainian government forces. Like the Russian parliament, they called on Putin to recognize their independence. In a special session, the Russian Security Council supported the proposals by a large majority.
Then the European Union announced sanctions against Russia. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel said punitive measures must be taken by those involved. What exactly penalties will be imposed initially remains open.
The US government will also respond to Russia’s decision to impose sanctions. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said US President Joe Biden will issue a similar order soon. These measures are intended to prohibit new investments, trade and financing by US persons in Donetsk and Luhansk.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the move as a clear violation of international law and spoke of a “shameful violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and integrity”. According to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the government in Moscow is intensifying the conflict with Ukraine. Russia is trying to make a pretext to invade Ukraine again.
The battles continue
The ceasefire in eastern Ukraine is no longer in place due to hundreds of violations. Government forces and pro-Russian separatists are shooting at each other. The separatists spoke of intense shelling, deaths and injuries, and cuts in electricity and water. Russia claimed the fall of shells on its territory.
According to Western information, Russia has collected about 150 thousand soldiers on the border with neighboring Ukraine. Moscow is contradicting the West’s fears for weeks that an invasion of Ukraine may be imminent.
Ukraine demands new sanctions
Meanwhile, Ukraine called on the European Union to immediately impose new sanctions on Russia. On the sidelines of consultations with the foreign ministers of EU countries in Brussels, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Kiev expects not only political messages, but concrete actions. There are good and legitimate reasons for at least some sanctions. At first, however, there was only clear support for this from the Baltic states.
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