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Western allies impose sanctions on Russia, as Putin gets the green light to deploy troops to breakaway republics
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Western allies imposed a raft of sanctions against Russia on Tuesday, in response to Russian recognition of two breakaway republics in the east of Ukraine.
Britain unveiled a "first tranche" of sanctions against Russian entities and individuals on Tuesday, with the EU announcing its own sanctions targeting economic, political, military, business and media sectors.
Meanwhile Germany said it is halting certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, a vital energy connection for Russia, as US President Joe Biden announced a new round of American sanctions against Russian oligarchs and banks.
Follow all of Tuesday's key developments here:
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The key points to know
- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday night recognised the independence of the so-called Donestk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic — two separatist-held areas in eastern Ukraine.
- He signed a decree to dispatch Russian troops for "peacekeeping functions" in the regions.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the nation in a televised address: "We are not afraid of anyone or anything".
- The UK and EU announced a raft of sanctions against economic, political, military, business and media sectors.
- President Biden says the US will redeploy some US troops in the region, and target Russian finances with sanctions.
- Germany is halting certification of Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, a vital energy connection for Russia.
- The EU says it has prepared contingency plans in case of an exodus of refugees from Ukraine.
That's the end of our Ukraine-Russia live blog for Tuesday. We'll be back on Wednesday morning with all the latest overnight news.
President Biden announces sanctions against Russian oligarchs and banks
US President Joe Biden announced the US was ordering heavy financial sanctions against Russian banks and oligarchs on Tuesday, declaring that Moscow had flagrantly violated international law by invading Ukraine.
“None of us will be fooled” by Russian President Vladimir Putin's claims about Ukraine, the US President said. And he said more sanctions could be on the way if Putin proceeds further.
Biden said he was also moving additional American troops to the Baltic states on NATO’s eastern flank bordering Russia.
President Biden joined the 27 European Union members who unanimously agreed on Tuesday to levy their own initial set of sanctions targeting Russian officials over their actions in Ukraine.
Ukraine's Defence Minister in Washington for talks with US Administration
Ukrainian Defence Minister Dmytro Kuleba is in Washington today for talks with senior members of the US Administration.
Kuleba met his American counterpart Lloys Austin at the Pentagon after the White House began referring to Russian troop deployments in eastern Ukraine as an "invasion."
Austin told Kuleba it was an honor to meet with him at "this critical, critical moment in history" and that "Russia's latest invasion is threatening the peace, security and prosperity of Ukraine and of the transatlantic community."
Adding, "The US support for Ukraine's self-defense, sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering."
Kuleba told Austin that Ukraine does not want war with Russia, and he was in Washington on a diplomatic mission to help resolve the tensions in his country.
"I'm looking forward to discussing with you the continuation of our partnership", and a "strong Ukraine is the best deterrence of Russia" he said.
The Biden administration was initially hesitating to use the term "invasion" - a red line that President Joe Biden has said would result in the US levying severe sanctions against Moscow. However on Tuesday Jon Finer, the principal deputy national security adviser, said "We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russia's latest invasion into Ukraine."
Minister Kuleba also had a meeting with President Biden. According to a White House statement, Biden promised to keep providing Ukraine "with security assistance and macroeconomic support."
Northern Europe 'Joint Expeditionary Force' members meet to discuss regional security situation
Defence Ministers from ten northern European countries met in England on Tuesday to discuss the regional security situation in light of Russian actions against Ukraine.
The countries form the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) which was set up by the UK in 2014 and now includes Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.
"The JEF gives us the ability to act collectively in an agile and responsive way to meet the variety of security challenges we face, however they arise, in that part of Europe we call home" the group said in a statement after talks.
"We call on Russia to de-escalate and encourage them to engage in transparent dialogue, including through the OSCE and the NATO-Russia Council, in order to reduce tensions."
The JEF will are planning to conduct naval exercises in the Baltic Sea in the coming weeks to demonstrate "solidarity, capability, and resolve to stand together for security and stability in our region."
Five of the JEF nations share external borders with Russia.
Poland says heavy sanctions should be inflicted on Russia
Polish leaders welcomed Germany's suspension of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline Tuesday but want to see tougher measures against Russia for its actions against Ukraine.
Speaking at a press conference Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called Nord Stream 2, built to carry Russian gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea but not yet in operation, a “harmful and dangerous geopolitical project.”
The leader of Poland's ruling Law and Justice party, Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, described the suspension as “better than nothing but still much too little.” He said he thought that Nord Stream 1, a similar pipeline that has been in operation for years, should also come into play.
“You cannot provide a very aggressive state with resources constantly so that it can increased its armed forces,” Kaczynski argued. Poland has warned that Nord Stream 2 would strengthen Russia’s hold on an energy-hungry Europe, giving it political leverage over the West.
The Polish government also approved a homeland defense bill which increases military spending. The government had previously announced plans for the legislation but approved the bill as Russian President Vladimir Putin pursued authorization to use military force outside his country, which could presage a broader attack on Ukraine.
Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak was among the European leaders saying that Moscow had already sent its forces into eastern Ukraine.
“Only serious sanctions can halt the rebuilding of the Russian empire by Vladimir Putin," he said.
Russia announces evacuation of diplomatic staff from Ukraine
The Russian Foreign Ministry has announced it will evacuate staff from its embassy in Kyiv, and from consulates in Odessa, Lviv and Kharkiv.
The announcement came on the ministry's official Telegram social media channel on Tuesday evening, saying "in order to protect their lives and safety, the Russian leadership has decided to evacuate the personnel [...] as soon as possible."
"Our first priority is to take care of the Russian diplomats" the post said.
The ministry also said that Russian diplomatic premises in Ukraine had been "repeatedly attacked" since 2014, the year Russian-backed forces annexed Ukraine's Crimea region.
"Provocations have been regularly staged against the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Kyiv, causing damage to the health of its head, as well as damage to the Centre's property."
EU making contingency plans to cope with any influx of refugees from Ukraine
The European Union is getting ready to take in refugees from Ukraine, as fears grow that Russia's military aggression could soon cause a wave of migrants seeking shelter in EU countries.
Poland, a neighbouring country, has said it is willing to host them.
Speaking to Euronews from Warsaw, Ylva Johansson, the European Commissioner for home affairs, said contingency plans are already in place.
"The focus has been on the contingency planning for the very dangerous situation in Ukraine. We don't know what would be the next step of Putin, but we have to be prepared if there will be a massive inflow of refugees of Ukrainians into the European Union. And Poland is, of course, a key country here," she said.
"We are looking into the support from the EU asylum agency with processing asylum applications, the support from Frontex with registration and border management, and the support from Europol as well."
Johansson avoided giving figures on how many asylum-seekers the bloc was expecting in case of a military invasion but stressed the EU's unity was "very strong and determined."
Russia 'continues to plan for a full-scale attack on Ukraine', NATO chief says
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says that Russia is giving "every indication" that it continues to plan "for a full-scale attack on Ukraine."
Speaking to journalists at NATO headquarter in Brussels after a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, Stoltenberg said Russia had "promised to step back, but they have continued to step up."
The NATO chief, a former prime minister of Norway, said they are seeing more Russian forces moving out of camps in combat formations, and called incidents in Donbas "false flag operations" where Russia tries to "create a pretext for an attack."
Stoltenberg confirmed that Russian troops moved into Donbas and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk after President Putin gave a speech in Moscow on Monday where he formally recognised the two breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine.
Calling on Russia to de-escalate the situation and engage in diplomatic efforts to find a solution, Stoltenberg said "it's never too late to not attack."
Hungary to deploy military to region near Ukrainian border
Hungary's defense minister says the military will deploy soldiers and equipment to the region near the Ukrainian border to prepare for potential humanitarian and border protection operations.
Defense Minister Tibor Benko said Prime Minister Viktor Orban ordered the military to mobilise along the country’s eastern border to prevent armed groups from potentially entering Hungarian territory, Hungarian state news agency MTI reported.
Benko said that he believed further escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine could bring armed activity all the way to Ukraine's western border. He said Hungarian soldiers would need to be prepared for the possible arrival of Ukrainian refugees in the wake of a greater conflict.
Energy prices surge as Ukraine crisis deepens
Oil prices surged nearly 5% and stock prices dropped after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the independence of rebel-held regions of Ukraine on Monday evening. Meanwhile EU leaders say they need to do more to guarantee security of energy supplies with Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson saying "We are at a crossroad in EU energy security & need unity more than ever."
President Biden to give live update on Ukraine-Russia situation
US President Joe Biden will give a live update to reporters in the East Room of the White House on the latest situation with Ukraine and Russia. The briefing is scheduled to start at 8pm CET.
Lawmakers give Putin permission to use force outside Russia
Russian lawmakers have given President Vladimir Putin permission to use military force outside the country.
The unanimous vote in Russia's upper house on Tuesday afternoon could presage a broader attack on Ukraine after the US said an invasion was already underway there.
The vote formalizes a Russian military deployment to the rebel regions, where an eight-year conflict has killed nearly 14,000 people.
Several European leaders said earlier in the day that Russian troops have moved into rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine after Putin recognised their independence.
But it was unclear how large the movements were. Ukraine and its Western allies have long said Russian troops are fighting in the region. Moscow denies those allegations.
Thermal power plants catch fire in Luhansk region due to shelling, Ukrainian authorities say
There's a fire in the city of Shchastia as a result of shelling, Ukrainian government authorities have said. Three transformers were burning at a power plant, Ukraine's emergency services said.
Russian official says Europeans will pay more for natural gas without Nord Stream 2
The deputy chair of Russia's security council Dmitry Medvedev said Europeans would have to pay more for natural gas after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he would take steps to stop the certification of Nord Stream 2.
But experts have said that stopping the certification process for the gas pipeline doesn't necessarily imply there will be less Russian gas sent to Europe.
"Gas trade can continue along the traditional routes, among which also feature Nord Stream 1," Simone Tagliapietra, a senior fellow at Bruegel told Euronews.
"If Russia reacts to this decision by halting gas supplies, that would be a deliberate political decision, certainly not grounded in physical infrastructure considerations."
But experts have said that stopping the certification process for the gas pipeline doesn't necessarily imply there will be less Russian gas sent to Europe.
"Gas trade can continue along the traditional routes, among which also feature Nord Stream 1," Simone Tagliapietra, a senior fellow at Bruegel told Euronews.
"If Russia reacts to this decision by halting gas supplies, that would be a deliberate political decision, certainly not grounded in physical infrastructure considerations."
US welcomes announcement on Nord Stream 2
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Twitter that President Joe Biden had "made clear that if Russia invades Ukraine, we would act with Germany to ensure Nord Stream 2 does not move forward.
"We have been in close consultations with Germany overnight and welcome their announcement. We will be following up with our own measures today," she added.
Russia not preparing to 'reconstitute an empire': Putin
"We had anticipated that there would be speculation that Russia was preparing to reconstitute an empire," the Russian president said at a Kremlin meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev, and "this is absolutely not the reality.
He added that after the fall of the USSR, Russia had "recognised the new realities and was actively working to strengthen" cooperation with other ex-Soviet countries, citing its neighbours Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan as examples.
He said Ukraine was in a "different situation" because "the territory of this country is used by third countries to create threats to Russia".
Pressure grows on UEFA to relocate Champions League final out of Russia
Britain's Minister for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nadine Dorries, said she has "serious concerns about the sporting events due to be held in Russia, such as the Champions League final, and will discuss with the relevant bodies.
"We won't allow President Putin to exploit events on the world stage to legitimise his illegal invasion of Ukraine," she added.
Britain slaps sanctions on 5 Russian banks and three oligarchs
Speaking in Parliament, Johnson said that "today, the UK is sanctioning 5 Russian banks — Rossiya, IS Bank, General Bank, Promsvyazbank and the Black Sea Bank — and we're sanctioning three very-high net-worth individuals."
These are Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotemberg and Igor Rotenberg.
Any asset they hold in the UK will be frozen and they are barred from entering the country, Johnson said, while UK individuals or entities are prohibited "from having any dealings with them.
"This is the first tranche, the first barrage of what we are prepared to do and we hold further sanctions at readiness to be deployed alongside the US and EU if the situation escalates still further," Johnson told lawmkers.
UK and Austria summon Russian ambassadors
A spokesperson for Boris Johnson told reporters that "this morning the foreign office has summoned the Russian ambassador."
The Austria government has issued a similar statement
Von der Leyen and Michel vow to block Russia from EU markets
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel gave a preview of the new package of EU sanctions against what they call Russia's “illegal and unacceptable” recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent.
The sanctions will target those involved in the recognition and punish “banks that are financing Russian military” operations in the separatist territories, the EU leaders said in a joint statement.
The package will aim to cripple “the ability of the Russian state and government to access the EU's capital and financial markets and services” in order to cut off additional funding to bankroll “escalatory policies.”
Von der Leyen and Michel also said the new sanctions will limit the trade between the bloc and the two breakaway regions “to ensure that those responsible clearly feel the economic consequences of their illegal and aggressive actions.”
“We stand by and will continue to support Ukraine and its people,” the presidents added.
Finland does not see increase in Russian military activity in Baltics
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said that “strangely enough, (the) situation in the entire Baltic Sea area seems very calm and the number of Russian military equipment dispatched in the area is on the decline.”
He said he doesn't see Finland facing a military threat from Russia. The two countries share a long border.
Niinisto said he didn’t know why Russia has “now simply decided to settle the Ukraine situation that has been going on for some seven, eight years.”
He said he doesn't see Finland facing a military threat from Russia. The two countries share a long border.
Niinisto said he didn’t know why Russia has “now simply decided to settle the Ukraine situation that has been going on for some seven, eight years.”
EU ambassadors agree to move quickly on sanctions
EU ambassadors discussed a fresh package of EU sanctions in response to the Russian recognition of the separatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.
The representatives agreed to move fast with the package's adoption, which is expected to be green-lighted later today by EU foreign affairs ministers in Paris.
The Hungarian ambassador expressed caution and underlined the need for dialogue but did not oppose the measures, Euronews understands.
Eric Mamer, the European Commission's chief spokesperson. said the executive presented member states with a “forceful” package of sanctions against “those involved in this illegal act” of recognition, but refused to provide details until the final list is officially approved.
Mamer rejected the characterisation of the sanctions as “targeted,” as reported by some media outlets, and said the new measures will not be a mere “mirror” of the punitive actions the bloc took against Russia back in 2014 after the Crimea annexation.
Germany suspends certification of Nord Stream 2: Scholz
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that he has ordered the withdrawal of a key document needed for the certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
The pipeline, joining Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea, was completed last summer but the German regulator postponed its certification, demanding the German operator be domiciled in Germany. Both Kyiv and Washington have criticised the pipeline, arguing it provides Russia with an additional tool to pressure Ukraine.
"The situation today looks fundamentally different," Scholz said at a press conference.
He said he asked to withdraw a key report on the security of supply.
"It sounds a bit technocratic but this is the first necessary step to make sure that the pipeline cannot be certified at this time," Scholz said.
He said he asked to withdraw a key report on the security of supply.
"It sounds a bit technocratic but this is the first necessary step to make sure that the pipeline cannot be certified at this time," Scholz said.
What kind of sanctions could the EU slap on Russia?
Since Russia invaded and annexed the Crimea peninsula in early 2014, the European Union has imposed a series of sanctions against those accused of undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity.
The penalties today cover 48 entities and 193 persons, such as judges, prosecutors and members of the State Duma, who are subject to asset freezes and travel bans, preventing them from entering or passing through EU territory. The EU has also drastically cut its economic ties with Crimea and Sevastopol through import and export bans, restrictions on trade and investment, and a prohibition to provide tourism services in the occupied areas.
The bloc has also introduced some measures that directly target the Russian economy but with a much more specific scope: restrictions for certain banks and companies, export bans on arms and dual-use goods (which can be used for both civilian and military purposes), and limits to access sensitive technologies and services related to oil production and exploration. Oil and gas exports are considered the backbone of Russia's economic model.
In response to the Crimea annexation, Russia was expelled from the Group of Eight (G8), which today continues to meet as the G7.
Russian MPs approve Putin's agreement with separatist leaders
"State Duma deputies ratified the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the Russian Federation and the Luhansk People's Republic and the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the Russian Federation and the Donetsk People's Republic," the Duma said in a statement.
The treaties unveiled by Putin on Monday evening allowed for the Russian leader to announce the deployment of troops for "peacekeeping duties" in the two "countries".
Russian MPs demanded through a resolution last week that Putin recognise the two so-called republics as independent.
Zelenskyy demands 'immediate' halt to Nord Stream 2 pipeline
The Ukrainian president told reporters during a joint press conference with his Estonian counterpart that they "agreed on the need for the immediate introduction of sanctions for a new act of aggression against Ukraine"
"These sanctions must include the complete shutdown of Nord Stream 2," he added.
Protecting population must be 'top priority': Amnesty
Human rights NGO Amnesty International stressed on Tuesday that "the protection of the civilian population in Ukraine must now be the top priority."
"With the prospect of a full-blown conflict becoming a reality, every effort must be made to limit the suffering of civilians and to put humanity first in this crisis. This is a legal obligation of all parties involved.
"We call on all parties to strictly respect international humanitarian and human rights law. They must ensure the protection of civilian lives and refrain from indiscriminate attacks and the use of prohibited weapons such as cluster bombs. We also call on them to allow and facilitate access for humanitarian agencies to provide assistance to civilians affected by the fighting," the NGO added.
"We call on all parties to strictly respect international humanitarian and human rights law. They must ensure the protection of civilian lives and refrain from indiscriminate attacks and the use of prohibited weapons such as cluster bombs. We also call on them to allow and facilitate access for humanitarian agencies to provide assistance to civilians affected by the fighting," the NGO added.
UK to impose 'immediate package of international sanctions': Johnson
Boris Johnson argued that the sanctions "will hit Russia very hard and there is a lot more that we are going to do in the event of an invasion."
"Be in no doubt that if Russian companies are prevented from raising capital on the UK financial markets, if we unpeel the facade of Russian ownership of companies, of property, it will start to hurt," he added.
He will give further details about the sanctions in parliament later today.
The Prime Minister also said that Britain will continue to support Ukraine, including by providing them with "lethal but defensive assistance.
"We're looking at what more we can do to help," he said.
Putin bent on 'full-scale invasion of Ukraine': Johnson
The British Prime Ministers told reporters after chairing an emergency COBRA meeting that "I'm afraid all the evidence" shows that Putin is bent "on a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the over-running, the subjugation of an independent sovereign European country."
"Let's be absolutely clear, I think that this would be absolutely catastrophic," he added.
'We must act quickly' on sanctions, Borrell says
Josep Borrell, the EU's top diplomat, told reporters upon arriving at a Ministerial Forum for the Indo-Pacific held in Paris on Tuesday morning that he has convened an "emergency (foreign affairs) council" in the afternoon to "take political decisions on the European response".
"Obviously, this response will be in the form of sanctions, the scope of which the ministers will discuss under my proposal," he said, adding: "the decision must be taken unanimously and I am sure that it will be taken unanimously
"We must act quickly, and quickly means this afternoon, here in Paris," he stressed.
Speech by Kenya's ambassador to the UN goes viral
Here's the powerful address Martin Kimani delivered to the UN Security Council's emergency meeting on Ukraine:
"Kenya and almost every African nation was birthed by the ending of empires. Our borders were not of our own drawing. They were drawn in the distant colonial metropoles of London, Paris, and Lisbon with no regard for the ancient nations that they cleaved apart. Today across the border of every single African country, live our countrymen, with whom we share deep historical, cultural and linguistic bonds.
"At independence had we chosen to pursue states on the basis of ethnic, racial or religious homogeneity, we would still be waging bloody wars these many decades later. Instead, we agreed that we would settle for the borders that we inherited. But we would still pursue continental political, economic, and legal integration.
"Rather than form nations that looked ever backward into history with a dangerous nostalgia, we chose to look forward to a greatness none of our many nations and peoples had ever known. We chose to follow the rules of the organisations of Africa's unity ad the United Nations Charter — not because our borders satisfied us but because we wanted something greater, forged in peace.
"We believe that all states formed from empires that have collapsed or retreated have many peoples in them yearning for integration with peoples in neighbouring states. This is normal and understandable. After all, who doesn't want to be joined to their brethren and to make common purpose with them? However, Kenya rejects such a yearning from being pursued by force. We must complete our recovery from the embers of dead empires in a way that does not plunge us back into new form of domination and oppression."
China calls for 'restraint' and 'peaceful talks'
A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that Beijing "called for all stakeholders to exercise restraint, acknowledge the importance of the principle of indivisible security, de-escalate and solve conflict through peaceful talks."
"The legitimate security concerns of any country shall be respected. The purposes and principles of the UN Charter shall be adhered," Lijian Zhao added.
'The invasion of Ukraine has begun': UK Minister
"We're waking up to a very dark day in Europe. It's clear from what we've seen and found out today that Russian President Putin has decided to attack the sovereignty of Ukraine and its territorial integrity," Health Minister Sajid Javid told Sky News.
"We've always said it's completely unacceptable. We've seen that he has recognised these breakaway eastern regions in Ukraine and from the reports, what I think we can already tell, that he's sent in tanks and troops.
From that you can conclude that the invasion of Ukraine has begun," he added.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is currently holding a an emergency COBR disaster meeting "to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine and to coordinate the UK response including agreeing a significant package of sanctions to be introduced immediately," Downing Street has also said.
Financial markets spooked by crisis
Shares fell sharply in Asia on Tuesday after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, suggesting a long-feared invasion was possibly underway.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index dropped 1.8% and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong fell 3.2% in early trading.
In Europe, shares slipped Monday as investors awaited developments in the Ukraine crisis. Germany’s DAX gave up 2.1%. In Paris, the CAC 40 in Paris declined 2%. Britain’s FTSE 100 fell 0.3%.
Russia's MOEX index dropped nearly 11% with the ruble down 3.2% against the U.S. dollar. Russian stocks fell by 8% at opening on Tuesday.
Ukraine's borders 'will remain unchangeable': Kyiv's ambassador to UN
Sergiy Kyslytsya told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday that Russia's decision to recognise the so-called DPR and LPR as independent is “illegal and illegitimate”.
Despite Putin’s actions, he said, “the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine have been and will remain unchangeable regardless of any statements and actions by the Russian Federation.”
He said Russia’s occupation of Donetsk and Luhansk ruin negotiating frameworks and “may be considered” as Russia’s unilateral withdrawal from the Minsk Agreements aimed at restoring peace to eastern Ukraine, and its disregard of the Normandy format comprising Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany which has tried to resolve the eight-year war in the east.
“We are committed to a political diplomatic settlement and do not succumb to provocations,” Kyslytsya said.
What Putin said in his speech
Here are some quotes from the Russian leader's televised address on Monday evening:
"I'll start with the fact that modern Ukrain was entirely and completely created by Russia, more precisely, Bolshevik, communist Russia. This process began almost immediately after the revolution of 1917, and Lenin and his associates did it in a very rude way towards Russia itself - by separating, tearing away from it part of its own historical territories. Of course, no one asked about anything to the millions of people who lived there."
"Maidan has not brought Ukraine any closer to democracy and progress. With the coup d'état, the nationalists and the political forces that supported them finally brought the situation to a standstill and pushed Ukraine into the abyss of civil war. Eight years after those events, the country is divided. Ukraine is experiencing an acute socio-economic crisis."
"We also know that there have already been statements that Ukraine is going to build its own nuclear weapons, and this is not empty bravado (...) With Ukraine getting weapons of mass destruction, the situation in the world, in Europe, especially for us, for Russia, will change dramatically. We cannot but respond to this real danger, especially, I repeat, that Western patrons may facilitate the appearance of such weapons in Ukraine in order to create another threat to our country."
"The information we have gives us every reason to believe that Ukraine's accession to NATO and the subsequent deployment here of North Atlantic Alliance facilities is a foregone conclusion and is a matter of time. We clearly understand that in such a scenario, the level of military threats to Russia will increase dramatically, many times over. And I draw particular attention to the fact that the danger of a surprise attack on our country will increase many times over."
"Now practically not a day goes by without shelling towns and villages in Donbas. A large group of troops is constantly using attack drones, heavy equipment, rockets, artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems. The killing of civilians, the blockade, the abuse of people, including children, women and the elderly, continues unabated. As we say here, there is no end in sight."
"I consider it necessary to make a long overdue decision - to recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic without delay."
"And from those who have seized and are holding power in Kyiv, we demand an immediate cessation of hostilities. Otherwise, all responsibility for the possible continuation of the bloodshed will be entirely on the conscience of the regime ruling the territory of Ukraine."
You can read the full speech, in Russian, here.
Russia 'always for the use of diplomacy': Spokeswoman
Maria Zakharova, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said in comments posted on YouTube that "even at the most difficult times... we say: we are ready for the negotiation process, that's why our position has remained the same."
"We are always for the use of diplomacy," she added.
Putin 'tore Minsk agreements to shreds': US ambassador to UN
Speaking to reporters after the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council over the situation in Ukraine, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Putin's speech on Monday evening "clearly sets up a pretext for invasion."
"In doing so, he tore the Minsk agreements to shreds" and "violated the UN Charter."
Just now my Russian counterpart made assertions without evidence that demonstrate their efforts to create a pretext for conflict, and it's alarming, it's revealing, ad it's shameful," she went on.
She said Washington expects "strong statements in support of Ukraine" as well as "a chorus of calls for Russia to cease its hostilities."
"Tomorrow, the United States will impose sanctions on Russia for this clear violation of international law and Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We can, will, and must stand united in our calls for Russia to withdraw its forces, return to the diplomatic table, and work towards peace," she concluded.
EU chief speaks to Zelenskyy
Charles Michel, the European Council president, announced on Tuesday morning that he has talked with Zelenskyy "to express the EU's full solidarity"
Australia evacuates diplomats to Poland and Romania
Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement on Tuesday that "ee continue to urge all Australians to leave Ukraine immediately. Do not delay."
"Due to the increased risk, Australian officials have been directed to depart Ukraine. Our Embassy and operations in Lviv are now temporarily closed. Australian officials have been deployed to eastern Poland and Romania to assist Australians seeking to depart Ukraine," she added.
She also said that Canberra is "coordinating closely" with allies "to ensure there are severe costs for Russia's aggression."
Western response to 'define us for the generations to come': Lithuanian PM
Ingrida Šimonytė said on Twitter that the announcements by Russia's Putin on Monday evening "just put Kafka and Orwell to shame."
"What we witnessed tonight might seem surreal for democratic world. But the way we respond will define us for the generations to come," she added.
Residents of separatist-held areas can evacuate to controlled Ukraine: Kyiv
In a statement issued after Zelenskyy held an urgent meeting of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, Kyiv said that "the state will fulfill all its obligations to its citizens - residents of the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, who wish to move to the controlled part of Ukraine."
"If necessary, Ukraine is also ready to expand these commitments," it added.
Russia's UN ambassador accuses West of egging Ukraine towards conflict
Vassily Nebenzia accused Ukraine during the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council of sharply increasing shelling in residential areas of the separatist Luhansk and Donetsk regions and in Russian towns and villages near the border.
He claimed that “subversive groups” have penetrated or tried to penetrate the territory known as the Donbas to sabotage critical infrastructure.
“So it has become clear that Donbas is on the brink of a new Ukrainian military adventure as was already the case in 2014 and 2015,” he said.
Nebenzia said Russia was open to diplomacy but wouldn't allow “a new bloodbath in the Donbas,” urging the United States and other Western nations to not worsen the situation.
US imposes 'costs' on DPR and LPR
US President Joe Bien has signed an executive order in reaction to Putin's announcement that Russia has recognised the so-called DPR and LPR as independent.
The executive order prohibits:
- new investment in the so-called DPR or LPR by a US person;
- the importation into the US of any goods, services, or technology from the two areas'
- the exportation, reexportation, sale, or supply from the US, or by a US person of any goods, services, technology from these areas;
- any approval, financing, facilitation, or guarantee by a US person of a transaction by a foreign person where the transaction by that foreign person would be covered by these prohibitions if performed by a US person or within the US.
The White House stressed that the executive order is "distinct from the swift and severe economic measures" prepared with other western allies.
What Zelenskyy told the nation
Here are some quotes taken from the Ukrainian president's early morning televised address:
"Ukraine most certainly considers these last Russian actions as the violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country. All responsibility for all the consequences connected with the decision mentioned above lies on the Russian political leadership. The recognition of independence of the occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk regions might mean the unilateral withdrawal of Russia from Minsk agreements."
"Ukraine most certainly considers these last Russian actions as the violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country. All responsibility for all the consequences connected with the decision mentioned above lies on the Russian political leadership. The recognition of independence of the occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk regions might mean the unilateral withdrawal of Russia from Minsk agreements."
"With today's and possibly tomorrow's decisions, Russia is legalizing its troops, which have been de-facto present in the occupied areas of Donbas since 2014. A country that has supported war for eight years cannot maintain peace."
"There are now absolutely no reasons for chaotic actions. We'll do everything to keep it this way further on. We stick with the peaceful and diplomatic way. We'll only walk this way. We are at our land, and we are not afraid of anything and anyone. We don't owe anything to anyone. We won't give away anything to anyone. We are confident in this."
"We have been ready for everything for a long time. There is no reason for your sleepless night."
"Behind me is Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders and it will remain the same, no matter what, no matter the statements and actions by Russia, just as we remain calm and confident."
Good morning. This is Alice Tidey and I'll be taking you through all the latest on the Ukrainian crisis following the Kremlin's announcement that it is sending "peacekeeping" troops in Ukraine.
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