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The 30-day measure allows authorities to impose restrictions on movement, block rallies and ban political parties and organisations “in the interests of national security and public order”.
Ukraine's parliament has approved a nationwide state of emergency to come into force at midnight on Wednesday into Thursday. The move was proposed earlier by President Zelenskyy and backed by the National Security Council.
The Kremlin said on Wednesday night that rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine have asked Russia for military help to fend off Ukrainian "aggression". Washington called it a classic "false flag" operation designed to provoke a pretext for Moscow to invade.
It comes as the region braced for further confrontation after Vladimir Putin received authorisation to use military force in eastern Ukraine and the West responded with sanctions. An emergency EU summit of the bloc's 27 national leaders is to convene on Thursday night in Brussels.
The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that the "world is facing a moment of peril", as he again accused Russia of violating the UN charter.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called for an immediate "severe, swift and decisive response" against Moscow, warning that failure would "mean a total bankruptcy of the international security system and international institutions".
Kyiv has announced a call-up of reservists and warned its nationals in Russia to leave the country.
The Russian ambassador to the UN hit back, Vasily Nebenzya telling the assembly that Ukraine was to blame for waging war on its own citizens. Earlier, a close ally of President Putin in the Russian parliament, the Duma, described new EU sanctions as "worthless".
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, scheduled on 24 February has been cancelled, arguing Moscow is not serious about diplomacy.
It comes after the US, UK, and EU unveiled sanctions against Russian individuals and entities in response to Putin's recognition of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic — two separatist-held areas in eastern Ukraine — and his announcement that troops would be sent in on "peacekeeping duties."
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The key points to know
Ukraine's Parliament has approved a nationwide state of emergency to come into force at midnight. The move was proposed earlier by President Zelenskyy and backed by the National SecurityCouncil;
The Kremlin says that the rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine have asked Russia for military assistance to fend off the Ukrainian “aggression”; Washington has called it a "false flag" move to create a pretext to invade;
A special summit of EU leaders will take place on Thursday; the EU has given more details of its sanctions against Moscow, including measures against Russia's defence minister and chief-of-staff;
Russian officials have dismissed Western sanctions as "worthless" and blamed Ukraine for rising tensions.
The Ukrainian government has urged Ukrainian nationals in Russia to "leave immediately"; Kyiv is also calling up reservists for one-year military service;
That's the end of our live blog coverage tonight. Join us again from 0600 CET on Thursday for more updates. See below for a list of all Wednesday's developments.
US says Ukraine rebel request a 'false flag' operation
The White House says the request by Ukrainian separatists for Russian military assistance in the face of supposed “aggression” by Ukraine’s government is an example of the “false flag” operations the West has consistently warned against.
The U.S. and allies have alleged for weeks that Russia would try to create a pretext for an invasion of Ukraine through the use of such operations.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki says the Kremlin’s announcement Wednesday that the separatists are seeking help ”is an example” of such an operation.
Psaki adds that “we’ll continue to call out what we see as false flag operations or efforts to spread misinformation about what the actual status is on the ground.”
Rebels ask Russia for military help in eastern Ukraine
The Kremlin says that the rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine have asked Russia for military assistance to fend off the Ukrainian “aggression.”
The appeal raises the prospect of Russia’s direct military involvement in eastern Ukraine amid Western fears that Moscow is poised to launch an all-out invasion of its neighbor.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the rebel chiefs wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin to tell him that shelling by the Ukrainian military has caused civilian deaths and forced many people to flee.
The move comes after Putin recognized the independence of Russia-backed rebel regions in eastern Ukraine and signed friendship treaties with them. On Tuesday, lawmakers gave Putin permission to use military forces outside the country.
EU countries summon Russian ambassadors
Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands moved to summon the Russian ambassadors to their countries on Wednesday, to explain Moscow's actions.
The Austrian foreign affairs ministry said Vienna "strongly condemns" Russia's "serious violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity".
Belgium's Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmès accused Russia of making "the deliberate choice of violating international law, the Minsk accords and of attacking Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity".
The Dutch foreign ministry said it had made clear to the Russian ambassador that "the recent actions by Russia are unacceptable and... will have serious consequences".
On Tuesday, ex-EU member the UK also summoned the Russian ambassador to London.
Paris and Berlin display visual solidarity with Ukraine
As we reported earlier, the Hotel de Ville in Paris and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin have been lit up in Ukraine's colours on Wednesday night in a show of solidarity by the French and German capitals. Here they are:
Russia 'nearly 100% ready' for invasion, says Pentagon official
A senior US defence official in Washington said the Russian forces arrayed along Ukraine’s borders are “as ready as they can be” for an invasion, with about 80% in what the US considers "forward positions, ready to go” within 5 kilometres to 50 kilometres of the border.
The warning comes as the region braces for further confrontation after Vladimir Putin received authorisation to use military force outside his country and the West responded with sanctions.
Ukrainian lawmakers approve nationwide state of emergency
Lawmakers in Ukraine have approved a nationwide state of emergency amid fears of an all-out Russian invasion.
The parliament approved Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decree that imposes the measure for 30 days starting Thursday. The state of emergency allows authorities to impose restrictions on movement, block rallies and ban political parties and organizations “in the interests of national security and public order.”
A total of 335 lawmakers voted in favour of the measure, which comes into force at midnight. The move was proposed earlier by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and backed by the National Security Council.
euronewsUkraine's parliament has approved a state of emergency to come into force at midnight on Wednesday into Thursday, after Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would send troops to eastern Ukraine.
Biden imposes sanctions on Nord Stream operator
US President Joe Biden announced sanctions on Wednesday against the company responsible for operating the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, linking Russia to Germany, a new measure in response to Vladimir Putin's manoeuvres around Ukraine.
"Today, I have directed my administration to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and its corporate officers," Biden said in a statement.
"These steps are another piece of our initial tranche of sanctions in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. As I have made clear, we will not hesitate to take further steps if Russia continues to escalate."
The announcement comes after Germany announced on Tuesday that it was suspending the controversial gas pipeline, which was completed at the end of 2021, but had not yet been commissioned, pending certification from Berlin. The United States has been against the gas pipeline from the start, which would weaken Ukraine economically and strategically and, in their eyes, increase the EU's dependence on Russian gas. "I want to thank Chancellor Scholz for his close partnership and continued dedication to holding Russia accountable for its actions," Biden said.
Cyberattack in Ukraine hits 'several government websites'
A new cyberattack on Wednesday targeted several official Ukrainian websites that had been made inaccessible, a senior government official said. Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fyodorov said the attack began in the late afternoon, disrupting the operation of the websites of several banks and ministries in the country. The home pages of the sites of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and that of the Cabinet of Ministers were thus inaccessible, noted AFP journalists. The sites concerned succeeded in "redirecting the traffic to another access provider to minimize the damage", Fiodorov said. The origin of the attack was not specified. In January, Ukraine was already targeted by a major cyberattack against a number of government sites. The authorities then claimed to have evidence of Russian involvement, accusations denied by Moscow.
EU sanctions oligarch behind Wagner Group
Euronews can confirm the EU has agreed to sanction Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Russian businessman sometimes called "Putin’s chef" due to his extensive network of restaurants.
The bloc claims Prigozhin is one of the main financial backers behind the Wagner Group, a paramilitary organisation made up of mercenaries, and the Internet Research Agency.
Based in Saint Petersburg, the Internet Research Agency conducts online campaigns that advance Russia’s political agenda and influence public opinion around the world.
Considered a "troll farm", the IRA has been accused of interfering in the US elections and spreading anti-Ukrainian narratives.
The new list of EU sanctions also includes Dmitry Grigorenko, one of Russia’s deputy prime ministers. Grigorenko also chairs the supervisory council of the state-owned VTB bank.
Russia-Ukraine conflict could bring 'up to 5 million refugees'
The US ambassador to the UN has warned that Russia's aggression against Ukraine could provoke a new refugee crisis with "up to five million" more people displaced.
If Russia continued down this path of "war" and "pressure" against Ukraine, it could create on of the world's most important refugee crises, Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the General Assembly.
Details of EU's 'targeted restrictive measures'
More on the EU sanctions against 351 members of the Russian parliament, the Duma, and another 27 "high profile individuals and entities".
The European Council says they include an asset freeze and a funding and travel ban. Those on the list include members of the government, banks and oligarchs, senior military figures and others behind a "disinformation war". More below from the EU's chief diplomat:
UK critics say British sanctions against Russia are too mild
The UK has slapped asset freezes and travel bans on three wealthy Russians and sanctioned five Russian banks. PM Boris Johnson says there will be more to come if there is a “full-scale” Russian invasion. But critics are calling for more.
“If not now, then when?” asked opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer.
Conservative lawmaker Iain Duncan Smith, a former party leader, said that “if we are going to hit them with sanctions, we need to hit them hard and hit them now.”
The UK says it's coordinating its sanctions with the European Union and the United States, but both of those have gone further.
World 'must not repeat mistakes of the past', says Ukrainian FM
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told the UN assembly that the world must avoid the mistakes of the past, faced with the worst security crisis since World War II.
"Today we need much more than hope. We need swift concrete and resolute actions, a new type of actions by the United Nations and international community, which is relevant to the level of the threat we all, not just Ukraine, face today because of Russia's aggressive course," he said.
Kuleba described Russia's accusations against Ukraine as "absurd", denying that Kyiv was escalating the crisis. Ukraine has never attacked anyone and has never planned any military offensive, provocation or act of sabotage in the Donbas, he added. The only reason to boost defences is Russia's ongoing military and political actions.
"Russia's actions and statements are outrageous, horrific and go far beyond threatening Ukraine," Kuleba said. Putin, he said, in his "horrifying speech" on Monday had denied Ukraine's right to exist.
EU sanctions Russia’s defence minister and Putin’s chief of staff
The European Union is hitting Vladimir Putin’s closest circle in a new round of sanctions that come barely 48 hours after the Russian President recognised the breakaway provinces of Donbas, in eastern Ukraine, as independent territories.
Euronews can confirm that among those targeted are Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s defence minister; Anton Vaino, Putin’s chief of staff; and Maria Zakharova, spokesperson of the foreign affairs ministry, as well as the commanders of the ground, navy and aerospace forces.
The sanctions were approved by written procedure on Wednesday afternoon and will become enforceable later today after their publication in the EU’s official journal.
Paris and Berlin to light up monuments in Ukrainian colours
The Hotel de Ville in Paris and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin will be lit up in Ukraine's colours on Wednesday night in a show of solidarity by the French and German capitals with the country suffering a violation of its sovereignty, Paris city hall has said.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drain said that Europe's sanctions against Russia will be "firm and painful", stressing that it was only the first package of upcoming measures, following the Kremlin's order sending troops to separatist regions of Ukraine.
Speaking at a joint news conference with his German counterpart, Le Drian told journalists that the speed at which sanctions had been implemented demonstrated the unity and strength of the European "partnership".
Le Drian warned members of Russia's parliament, who are on the list of targets, that "it's going to become difficult for them."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reiterated his country's need for security guarantees amid threats of a Russian offensive.
Speaking after meeting with the Polish and Lithuanian Presidents on Wednesday, Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian army was "ready for everything."
Earlier Zelenskyy called up some of the country’s military reservists but said there was no need for a full military mobilization.
The Ukrainian leader also called for further strengthening of Western sanctions against Russia.
"Ukraine is not part of any security alliances. It's not part of anything. We are self-defending ourselves with the support of our partners. But it's Ukrainians who are dying. That's why Ukraine needs clear and precise security guarantees immediately. Because we want to be sure that we can protect our people and our houses," he said.
Guterres will explore 'all efforts to avoid further bloodshed'
The UN Secretary General has told the UN General Assembly he is "fully committed to support all efforts to resolve this crisis without further bloodshed", adding that "we cannot and will not relent in the search for a peaceful solution".
Antonio Guterres said the world faces a moment of peril, denouncing again Moscow's "violations" against Kyiv.
Moscow's decision to recognise the so-called independence of the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, and its further moves, violate Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty and are incompatible with the UN Charter, he added.
Charles Michel calls for in-person EU summit
European Council President Charles Michel has convened an in-person meeting of the 27 EU leaders to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine and possible new sanctions against Russia.
“The use of force and coercion to change borders has no place in the 21st century,” said Michel in a tweet.
The meeting will take place tomorrow in Brussels at 20:00.
Separately, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced an extraordinary meeting with the leaders of the political groups. (modifié)
Erdogan warns Putin over Ukrainian 'territorial integrity'
The Turksh president has warned Vladimir Putin that his country "will not recognise any measure affecting the territorial integrity of Ukraine".
Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his Russian counterpart in a phone conversation that "a military conflict will bring nothing to anybody", the Turkish president's office added.
It did not say how long the conversation lasted.
Turkey, a NATO member which has borders with Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea, has good relations with countries. Erdogan says it cannot abandon those ties, Reuters reports quoting Turkish media.
Poland and Lithuania 'support' EU candidate status
"Given the significant progress in the implementation of the Association Agreement and internal reforms, as well as the current security challenges, Ukraine deserves EU candidate status and the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Poland will support Ukraine in achieving this goal," Nauseda, Polish President Andrzej Duda and Zelenskyy emphasised in a joint statement.
Ukraine's European perspective must be 'very clear': Lithuania President
Gitanas Nausėda told reporters during a joint press conference in Kyiv with his Ukrainian and Polish counterparts that "in the light of Russia's aggression, Ukraine will not be left alone."
"Only a strong response can stop further escalation of the conflict," he said, adding that "NATO must also send in a clear signal that there is no change to the open door policy."
"The European perspective on Ukraine must also be very clear and well defined," he said.
"Ukrainians have showed tremendous efforts in reforming the country," he said. "Ukrainians prove that there are very serious about their European aspirations."
Russian diplomatic staff being evacuated from Ukraine
The spokesman for Russia's embassy in Kyiv, Denis Golenko, confirmed to AFP that the evacuation is under way.
The Russian flag was no longer flying on the roof of the Russian representation in the Ukrainian capital and several people were coming out with suitcases.
Russia regrets German decision on Nord Stream 2: ambassador
"We regret that Germany is going to suspend the certification of Nord Stream 2 because before that, Germany also stated that the gas pipeline is a commercial, purely economic project and has nothing to do with politics," the Russian ambassador to Germany, Sergei Nechaev, said on Twitter.
He blamed the decision on "active pressure of overseas colleagues".
"Nord Stream 2 is necessary first and foremost for Europe's energy security; the German economy and population, and Europe," he added.
"We hope that this announcement is a temporary measure and that prudence and pragmatism will eventually prevail," he concluded.
EU ambassadors deciding on new sanctions
Ambassadors from member states are currently meeting to discuss additional sanctions, the French presidency of the EU has announced.
The Council is then expected to approve them so they can be published in the Official Journal later in the day.
"Entry into force of the sanctions upon their publication," the French presidency said.
UK to provide more military support to Ukraine
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said at PMQs that the UK would soon provide a further package of military support to Ukraine including defensive weapons in addition to non-lethal aid.
Opposition leader Keir Starmer criticised the UK government's sanctions on Russia, asking when tougher sanctions would be imposed.
Johnson said there is more to come and "we will be stopping Russia from raising sovereign debt".
He added there was "still hope" that Putin would "see sense".
Germany will be able to go without Russian natural gas, economy and climate minister says
Germany will be able to go without Russian natural gas if necessary, the country’s minister of economy and climate said.
"Yes, it can," confirmed Robert Habeck on German public radio in response to a question about going without Russian gas, on which it is heavily dependent.
It came a day after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced they would suspend the certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline after Moscow recognised the self-proclaimed pro-Russian republics in eastern Ukraine.
If Berlin were to give up Russian gas completely one day, this would first result in "a big gap" to be filled in the energy market, with the consequence of "first driving up the price" of gas.
But in the end, the gas purchased from Gazprom could be "compensated" by other suppliers and energy sources, Habeck said.
This map shows the separatist-held areas of eastern Ukraine
For those of you wanting to understand the current crisis in Ukraine better, this handy map shows the contested areas and the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
'We want to go home': Ukraine evacuees in Rostov-on-Don speak to Euronews
On Tuesday, Russian authorities housed 39 people that had fled eastern Ukraine 60-kilometres from the front line. Euronews caught up with some of the families about their fears and expectations.
Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council recommends state of emergency
It needs to be approved by parliament, the head of the Council, Oleksiy Danilov, said after a meeting.
He added that it will be up to regional authorities to determine which measures to apply, but they could include additional protection for public facilities, restrictions on traffic, and additional transport and document checks.
Extra German troops arrive in Lithuania to bolster NATO mission
Germany has sent an additional 350 troops to Lithuania over the past few days, the Ministry of Defense said.
"The alliance stands together — we act as one in the alliance and within the EU. For us it is clear: we rely on credible deterrence," it added.
Lithuania is one of four EU countries that have a NATO Enhance Forward presence on its territory alongside fellow Baltic nations Latvia and Estonia as well as Poland.
China accuses US for creating 'fear and panic' over Ukraine
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said China is opposed to new unilateral sanctions imposed on Russia, reiterating a longstanding Chinese position.
“On the Ukraine issue, unlike the US, which keeps sending weapons to Ukraine, creating fear and panic and even playing up the threat of war, China has been calling on all parties to respect and pay attention to each other’s legitimate security concerns, work together to solve problems through negotiations and consultations, and maintain regional peace and stability," Hua said at a daily briefing.
She made no mention of the Russian troops at the border — which are believed to be reached up to 190,000 — or efforts by the US, France and others to engage Russia diplomatically.
Lavrov criticises UN chief comments
Russia's top diplomat accused the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of succumbing to "Western pressure" during a meeting in Moscow on Wednesday with the UN envoy on Syria with Geir Pedersen.
Guterres said earlier that he is "concerned about the perversion of the concept of peacekeeping", implying that the Russian troops in eastern Ukraine which Moscow said were on a "peacekeeping" mission were not.
Ukrainian MPs approve draft law allowing civilians to carry firearms
The draft law, first introduced in June last year, was adopted in its first reading. It would allow Ukrainians to carry firearms and act in self-defence.
"The adoption of this law is fully in the interests of the state and society," the authors of the draft law said in a note relayed by Reuters.
They added that the law is needed due to "existing threats and dangers for the citizens of Ukraine".
Russian attack on Kyiv is 'very real possibility': UK Minister
Britain's Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, said that an assault by Russian forces on the Ukrainian capital is a "very real possibility."
"Russia has encircled Ukraine so we could see an attack from a variety of directions," she told the BBC.
She also defended the sanctions imposed by the UK on Tuesday, arguing there are the "toughest we've ever put on Russia" and stressing that more will come in the event of further aggression.
"There will be more action on financial markets, there will be more action on individuals — we have a list of individuals ready to go," she said.
"Vladimir Putin and his cronies will be fearing they will be hit next," she affirmed.
Ukraine calls reservists to military service
Ukraine's Armed Forces announced on Wednesday that President Zelenskyy has signed a decree to mobilise reservists.
"Reservists from 18 to 60 years of age will be eligible for the draft," the Armed Forces said in a statement.
Drafted personnel will serve for one year.
It is unclear yet how many reservists will be drafted.
Kyiv urges Ukrainians in Russia to 'leave immediately'
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also recommended on Wednesday morning that "Ukrainian citizens refrain from making any trips to the Russian Federation" and that those already in Russia "leave its territory immediately".
It said that "the intensification of Russian aggression against Ukraine" may lead to "a significant limitation of consular assistance" in Russia.
Ukraine calls on West to hit Russia 'more' and 'hard'
Foreign Ministry Dmytro Kuleba reiterated his demand that the West imposes more sanctions on Russia on Wednesday morning.
He welcomed the sanctions announced by allies on Tuesday as "first decisive steps" but said that "now the pressure needs to step up and stop Putin.
"Hit his economy and cronies. Hit more. Hit hard. Hit now," he said.
EU must have no doubt who its allies are: French Minister
Clément Beaune, France's European Affairs minister, defended western sanctions against Russia on France INter radio on Wednesday.
"What has happened must not be minimised. What has happened is already very serious. You have heard the speeches of Vladimir Putin. Beyond the gestures of recognition of the independence of the two republics, there was a further attack on the sovereignty of Ukraine," he said.
"It is a very hard speech, very brutal towards the West and I think that in this case, as we can see in the French debate, we should not have any doubt about where our alliances are and where our interests lie. For the moment that's what we're dealing with, sending a strong signal and being united between the 30 or 35 members of the EU, the Atlantic alliance and our closest partners," he added.
France is in the midst of a presidential campaign and some candidates, far-right Marine Le Pen and Eric Zemmour and far-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon, have issued ambiguous statements on the events unfolding in Ukraine.
UN chief 'concerned about perversion' of peacekeeping concept
Antonio Guterres said on Twitter on Wednesday morning that he is "concerned about the perversion of the concept of peacekeeping."
"When troops of one country enter the territory of another country without its consent, they are not impartial peacekeepers.
"They are not peacekeepers at all," he added.
The UN Secretary-General has issued a call for "an immediate ceasefire" and de-escalation.
How the US could cut off Russia from the tech world
Among the sanctions being mulled by the US are requirements for companies seeking to ship an expanded list of goods to Russia obtain licenses from the United States, which could then be denied.
"It's extraordinarily novel and has the potential for being far more significant than controls just on exports of these items from the United States," said Washington lawyer Kevin Wolf, a former official at the US Department of Commerce.
Most chips are made with American equipment, giving the US leverage to control the flow of electronics to Russia.
Russia 'always open to direct and honest dialogue': Putin
The Russian president said in a televised address on Wednesday to mark the "Day of the Defender of the Fatherland" that "our country is always open to direct and honest dialogue to find diplomatic solutions to the most complex problems."
"However, the interests and security of our citizens are non-negotiable for us," he went on, reiterating his call for NATO to guarantee Ukraine will never be able to become a member.
He also cited "the loosening of the arms control system" and "NATO's military activities" as threats to Russia and said that the country's concerns remained "unanswered".
Why Russian banks are being targeted
The EU, UK, US and now Australia have all imposed sanctions on several Russian banks.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday evening that the banks targeted "finance the Russian military apparatus and contribute to the destabilisation of Ukraine."
Chief among them are Vnesheconombank (VEB) and Promsvyazbank Public Joint Stock Company (PSB).
VEB is crucial to Russia’s ability to raise funds, and PSB is critical to Russia’s defense sector. The two hold more than $80 billion (€70.6 billion) in assets combined. They will now be cut off from carrying out transactions in the US and European banking systems.
Russian ambassador to US warns sanctions will hit Americans
Anatoliy Antonov said in comments relayed by the embassy's Facebook page that "there is no doubt that the sanctions introduced against us will hit global financial and energy markets."
"The United States will not be left out, with its ordinary citizens feeling the consequences of the price increase in full," he added.
He also argued that sanctions against Russia won't "solve a thing."
"It is hard to imagine that there is a person in Washington who expects Russia to revise its foreign policy under a threat of restrictions. I don't remember a single day when our country lived without any restrictions from the Western world. We have learned to work in such conditions," he said.
Australia announces sanctions against Russia
Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters on Wednesday that the country's first tranche of financial sanctions and travel bans will target eight members of Russia's Security Council.
Five Russian banks have also been targeted.
"The sanctions will impose strong economic sanctions in the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, targeting the following sectors: transport, energy, telecommunications, oil, gas, and mineral reserves," he said
He also said he has instructed the Minister for Immigration to "accelerate the conclusion of Ukrainian visa applications to Australia" and that Canberra "will work very closely, especially with Poland, but other European partners to deal with the likelihood of displaced persons coming into their countries."
Canada delivers more 'lethal' aid, deploys more troops to region
Canada has "made a second delivery of lethal military aid to support our Ukrainian partners, Anita Anand, the country's Minister of National Defense has announced.
She also said that an additional 460 personnel would come to bolster NATO's "deterrence measures in Europe" while a second frigate, an embarked maritime helicopter and a maritime patrol aircraft will be sent to Latvia to operate under NATO's command.
Good morning. I'm Alice Tidey and I'll be taking you through all the latest on the crisis this morning.
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