Putin orders troops into Ukraine on ‘peacekeeping mission’: Russian leader tells defence chiefs to send in his armed forces to two rebel-held territories after he recognised their independence and paved way for an invasion
- Vladimir Putin will recognise Ukraine’s eastern regions as independent and sign a degree to that effect shortly
- Move would pave the way for Russian troops to roll in, on basis of ‘defending’ them against Ukrainian ‘threats’
- Mr Johnson said Putin’s decision to recognise the two separatist Ukrainian republics was an ‘ill omen’ and a ‘dark sign’ that things are moving in the wrong direction
- Putin spoke after an hours-long meeting of Russia’s security council, with aides laying out the case for war
- Having spent days staging what are widely thought to be false flag attacks and blaming them on Kiev, Kremlin officials presented them as ‘evidence’ that ethnic Russians are at risk of ‘genocide’ and must be protected
- All eyes will now turn to Ukraine’s border regions, where Russian tanks have been spotted in ‘battle formation’
Vladimir Putin has ordered his troops to enter Ukraine on a ‘peacekeeping mission’ after he officially recognised the country’s eastern regions as independent states – a move that will pave the way for a long-feared Russian invasion of Kiev.
The Russian President ordered his defence ministry to despatch Russian peacekeepers to eastern Ukraine’s two breakaway regions – the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic – according to a decree signed by Putin recognising their independence.
Moscow provided no details or date for any deployment, with the order saying only that it ‘comes into force from the day it was signed’.
Recognising the rebel regions’ independence effectively shatters the Minsk peace agreements and opens the door for Russia to sign treaties with the ‘states’ and openly send troops and weapons there to defend them against Ukrainian ‘threats’.
The move fuels further tension with the West and narrows the diplomatic options available to avoid war, since it is an explicit rejection of a seven-year-old ceasefire mediated by France and Germany, still touted as the framework for any future negotiations on the wider crisis.
The Kremlin said that upon hearing that Putin will sign the order to recognise the independence of eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had ‘expressed disappointment’ over the decision in phone calls with the Russian President.
Mr Johnson said Putin’s decision to recognise the two separatist Ukrainian republics was in breach of international law and an ‘ill omen’ and ‘dark sign’ that things are moving in the wrong while UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the move would not go ‘unpunished’ as she announced new sanctions on Russia.
The EU’s top officials also said they will impose sanctions, while the U.S. has ordered sanctions which will prohibit new investment, trade and financing in the two separatist regions of Ukraine recognised by Putin.
Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg also condemned Putin, accusing Russia of ‘trying to stage a pretext to invade Ukraine yet again’.
Earlier, Putin vowed to decide ‘today’ whether to recognise Ukraine’s eastern regions as independent states. He made the remark at the end of an hours-long security council meeting that was broadcast on Russian TV during which the country’s top security officials were called up one by one and asked to lay out the case for war – seemingly aimed at persuading a skeptical public of the need to attack.
Having spent days staging what are widely believed to be false flag attacks on Ukrainian soil and blaming them on Kiev, ministers presented the ‘evidence’ to Putin today: Claiming Russians in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions are under threat of ‘genocide’, that no peace deal can save them, and that he must intervene to save lives.
But in evidence that the entire spectacle was being staged – with the West warning a decision to invade has already been made – eagle-eyed viewers noticed that defence minister Sergei Shoigu’s watch was five hours behind Moscow time, suggesting the hearing was pre-recorded.
All eyes will now turn to Ukraine’s border regions for evidence that Russian troops have crossed, after videos published earlier in the day showed tanks and armoured vehicles in ‘battle formations’ – some of them less than three miles from the frontier.
Dymtro Kuleba, Ukraine’s defence minister, said after the council meeting that ‘the entire world’ will watch what Russia does next and that ‘everyone realises the consequences’ if Putin vows to recognise the breakaway regions. ‘We all should calmly focus on de-escalation efforts, [there is] no other way,’ he tweeted.
It comes as two Ukrainian soldiers died on Monday and three were wounded in a shelling attack in Zaitseve, a village 18 miles north of the rebel stronghold Donetsk, Ukraine’s national police said.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who had a phone call with Putin this evening, warned him that recognising the eastern regions would be a ‘one-sided’ breach of peace negotiations and that he has a ‘responsibility’ to de-escalate tensions by removing troops from the border.
Meanwhile Joe Biden called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and convened a meeting of his National Security team after Putin slammed the U.S. for ‘colonizing’ Ukraine and using it as a ‘puppet regime’ in televised remarks before signing the decree.
Elsewhere today…
- US officials warned Russian battle plans call for ‘overwhelming’ fire against Ukraine that could cause ‘tens of thousands of casualties’ within days of an invasion
- US also warned Russia has prepared a hit-list of people it wants to kill or send to detention camps if Ukraine falls, with dissidents, journalists, political figures , ethnic minorities and LGBTQ people all on the list
- Fresh explosions were heard in Ukraine’s eastern regions with separatist leaders claiming a Ukrainian citizen was killed and that Kiev’s troops had crossed the border in armoured vehicles
- Russia claimed that a Ukrainian shell hit its territory in the Rostov-on-Don region, destroying an unoccupied guard post. Kiev has strongly denied shelling separatist or Russian positions
- Pro-Russian separatists said 60,000 people have now been evacuated from rebel-held areas to Russia
- Air France announced it is halting all flights to and from Kiev, following similar move by Germany’s Lufthansa
Vladimir Putin today chaired a meeting of Russia’s full security council, with top aides getting to their feet one by one to lay out the case for war in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin signs a document recognising the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Monday
But in evidence the spectacle was being staged, viewers noticed defence minister Sergei Shoigu’s watch was running five hours slow – suggesting the hearing was pre-recorded
Pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine celebrated on Monday evening as fireworks went off following Russian President Vladimir Putin signing a decree recognizing two Eastern Ukrainian regions as ‘independent republics’
Separatist leaders in Ukraine’s eastern regions claimed today a Ukrainian shell landed in Russian territory, destroying a guard post that was unmanned at the time
Pro-Kremlin media also broadcast claims that a bomb-carrying saboteur was foiled trying to attack a market, airing graphic images of a severed leg which Ukraine said had been taken from a nearby morgue and used to stage the ‘blast’
Russian tanks an armoured vehicles are seen in what observers described as ‘battle formation’ close to the border with Ukraine today, with a ‘Z’ symbol painted on the sides which is believed to denote a battle group
Russia has moved its forces to within three miles of the Ukrainian border, with tanks spotted on manoeuvres in Kursk (left) at the weekend and support trucks in Belgorod (right) on Monday
Russian ‘terminator’ tanks – armoured vehicles that are designed to support infantry units fighting in urban areas – were spotted being transferred to the frontlines at the weekend
Russia ‘used body parts from morgue to fake attacks in Donbass’
Ukraine today accused Russia of taking corpses from morgues and using them in incidents of fake attacks blamed on Kiev.
In one piece of footage, pro-Moscow journalists reporting from a market in the Donetsk region claimed a ‘saboteur’ had attempted to plant a bomb there in the morning while people did their shopping.
Reporters claimed the ‘criminal ‘ had been blown up by security forces before showing images of body parts scattered around the road.
But Kiev said the limbs had likely been taken from a local morgue and placed to appear as if an attack had taken place, in an effort to justify Russia marching troops into the region to protect locals.
‘We assume that they take corpses from morgues and blow them up for imitation,’ said an official.
A second such incident was reported elsewhere in the Donbass region, as separatist channels reported that a miner had been killed in a blast.
Putin told the public in a lengthy televised address on Monday evening: ‘I believe it is necessary to take a long overdue decision, to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic.’ He was then shown signing mutual aid agreements with rebel leaders in the Kremlin.
At the end of his lengthy speech, Putin asked Russia’s upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, to ‘support this decision’.
Both Russia’s lower and upper houses of parliament are due to vote on the recognition on Tuesday.
The Russian leader also demanded that Ukraine end military operations against pro-Moscow rebels in the eastern part of the country, or face more possible bloodshed.
‘We demand an immediate end to military operations,’ Putin said, accusing Kyiv of ‘trying to organise a blitzkrieg’ in east Ukraine.
‘Otherwise, all responsibility for the possible continuation of bloodshed will be fully on the conscience of the regime in power in Ukraine,’ he added.
The West had repeatedly warned Putin not to recognise Ukraine’s rebels, a move that effectively buries a fragile peace agreement regulating the conflict.
Putin spoke for over an hour in a speech heavy with historical references questioning Ukraine’s right to sovereignty and alleging the West had spent years cheating Moscow.
‘Modern Ukraine was entirely and completely created by Russia,’ Putin said.
Appearing visibly angry, Putin said Ukraine should be called ‘Ukraine of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin’, saying it owes its creation to the Russian revolutionary.
He also accused Kiev of waging ‘genocide’ in eastern Ukraine and of preparing to get hold of a nuclear arsenal.
He said the West ‘spat’ on Russia’s security concerns for years by ‘moving NATO eastwards and putting military infrastructure closer to Russia’s borders.’
The Russian leader said the West was trying to ‘blackmail’ Moscow, ‘regardless of the situation in Ukraine.’
‘There is only one aim: to stop Russia from developing. And they will do it, as they did before, even without any formal pretext at all,’ the longtime Russian leader said.
In response, Ms Truss said the UK will announce new sanctions on Russia on Tuesday ‘in response to their breach of international law and attack on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity’.
President Biden has also ordered new sanctions after calling Putin’s announcement a ‘blatant violation of Russia’s international commitments’. The sanctions will prohibit new investment, trade and financing in the two separatist regions of Ukraine recognized by Putin.
The absence of sanctions directly on Russia or Putin was immediately met with backlash from those who said the Biden administration isn’t doing enough in response to the latest Russian movements and announcements.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki assured that there will be further measures taken in coordination with U.S. allies and partners if Russia invades Ukraine.
‘We are continuing to closely consult with Allies and partners, including Ukraine, on next steps and on Russia’s ongoing escalation along the border with Ukraine,’ she wrote.
The European Union’s top officials have also said the bloc will impose sanctions against Russia.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel say in a joint statement that the recognition is ‘a blatant violation of international law.’
The statement adds that the bloc ‘will react with sanctions’ and ‘reiterates its unwavering support to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.’
Responding to Putin signing a decree formally recognising rebel-held territories in eastern Ukraine as independent states, Mr Johnson told a press conference: ‘I gather that Vladimir Putin has effectively announced that Russia is recognising the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk.
‘This is plainly in breach of international law. It’s a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine.
‘It is a repudiation of the Minsk process and the Minsk agreements. And I think it’s a very ill omen and a very dark sign, and certainly does seem to me that it’s certainly an indication – yet another indication – that things are moving in the wrong direction in Ukraine.
‘The UK will continue to do everything we can to stand by the people of Ukraine with a very robust package of sanctions, as you know, fortifying the Eastern flank of NATO in all the ways that we have, but also being one of the few countries to have given the Ukrainians, the defensive weaponry that we think is appropriate to their needs and we will continue to to think about what more we can do to support Ukraine in what is clearly a very, very dark and difficult time.’
Ms Truss said ‘we will not allow Russia’s violation of its international commitments to go unpunished’ after Putin said he would recognise two separatist Ukrainian republics.
She added: ‘President Putin’s recognition of the ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ and ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’ as independent states shows flagrant disregard for Russia’s commitments under the Minsk agreements. This step… signals an end to the Minsk process.
‘It demonstrates Russia’s decision to choose a path of confrontation over dialogue. We will co-ordinate our response with allies. We will not allow Russia’s violation of its international commitments to go unpunished.’
Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg tonight condemned Putin’s action in recognising the breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine and accused Russia of ‘trying to stage a pretext to invade Ukraine yet again’.
‘I condemn Russia’s decision to extend recognition to the self-proclaimed ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ and ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’,’ NATO’s secretary general Mr Stoltenberg said.
‘This further undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, erodes efforts towards a resolution of the conflict, and violates the Minsk Agreements, to which Russia is a party.’
The former Norwegian Prime Minister added: ‘In 2015, the United Nations Security Council, which includes Russia, reaffirmed its full respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Donetsk and Luhansk are part of Ukraine.
‘Moscow continues to fuel the conflict in eastern Ukraine by providing financial and military support to the separatists. It is also trying to stage a pretext to invade Ukraine once again.
‘NATO supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. Allies urge Russia, in the strongest possible terms, to choose the path of diplomacy, and to immediately reverse its massive military build-up in and around Ukraine, and withdraw its forces from Ukraine in accordance with its international obligations and commitments.’
Waving Russian flags, people celebrated the latest announcement in the streets in Donetsk, Ukraine on Monday, February 21
Putin’s recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk rebel regions’ independence paves the way for the long-feared Russian invasion. Pro-Russian residents in Donestk celebrated independence with a fireworks show on Monday
What did Vladimir Putin say in his speech?
ON DONBASS
‘Those who embarked on the path of violence, bloodshed, lawlessness did not recognize and do not recognize any other solution to the Donbass issue, except for the military one. In this regard, I consider it necessary to take a long overdue decision to immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic. I ask the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to support this decision, and then to ratify the treaties of friendship and mutual assistance with individual republics. These two documents will be prepared and signed in the very near future. And from those who seized and hold 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 on the territory of Ukraine. Announcing the decisions taken today, I am confident in the support of the citizens of Russia. Of all the patriotic forces of the country.’
ON UKRAINE MEMBERSHIP OF NATO
‘If Ukraine was to join NATO it would serve as a direct threat to the security of Russia.’
ON ORIGINS OF MODERN UKRAINE
‘Modern Ukraine was entirely created by Russia, more precisely, Bolshevik, communist Russia. This process began immediately after the revolution of 1917…
‘As a result of Bolshevik policy, Soviet Ukraine arose, which even today can with good reason be called ‘Vladimir Ilyich Lenin’s Ukraine’. He is its author and architect. This is fully confirmed by archive documents… And now grateful descendants have demolished monuments to Lenin in Ukraine. This is what they call decommunisation. Do you want decommunisation? Well, that suits us just fine. But it is unnecessary, as they say, to stop halfway. We are ready to show you what real decommunisation means for Ukraine.’
ON UKRAINIAN STATEHOOD
‘Ukraine never had a tradition of genuine statehood.’
ON BREAK-UP OF USSR
‘Russia assumed obligations to repay the entire Soviet debt in return for the newly independent states giving up part of their foreign assets. In 1994, such agreements were reached with Ukraine, but they were not ratified by Ukraine…
‘(Ukraine) preferred to act in such a way that in relations with Russia they had all the rights and advantages, but did not bear any obligations…
‘From the very first steps they began to build their statehood on the denial of everything that unites us. They tried to distort the consciousness, the historical memory of millions of people, entire generations living in Ukraine.’
ON NATO’S 2008 MEMBERSHIP PROMISE TO UKRAINE AND GEORGIA
‘Many European allies of the United States already perfectly understood all the risks of such a prospect, but were forced to come to terms with the will of their senior partner. The Americans simply used them to carry out a pronounced anti-Russian policy. A number of member states of the alliance are still very skeptical about the appearance of Ukraine in NATO.
‘At the same time, we are receiving a signal from some European capitals, saying what are you worried about, this will not happen literally tomorrow. Yes, in fact, our American partners are also talking about this. Well, we answer, if not tomorrow, so the day after tomorrow. What does this change in a historical perspective? Basically, nothing. Moreover, we know the position and words of the U.S. leadership that active hostilities in eastern Ukraine do not exclude the possibility of this country joining NATO if it can meet the criteria of the North Atlantic alliance and defeat corruption. At the same time, they try to convince us over and over again that NATO is a peace-loving and purely defensive alliance, saying that there are no threats to Russia. Again they propose that we take them at their word. But we know the real value of such words.’
ON THREATS TO RUSSIA
‘We clearly understand that under such a scenario, the level of military threats to Russia will dramatically increase many times over. I pay special attention to the fact that the danger of a sudden strike against our country will increase many times over. Let me explain that U.S. strategic planning documents contain the possibility of a so-called preemptive strike against enemy missile systems. And who is the main enemy for the U.S. and NATO? We know that too. It’s Russia. In NATO documents, our country is officially and directly declared the main threat to North Atlantic security. And Ukraine will serve as a forward springboard for the strike. If our ancestors had heard about it, they probably would simply not have believed it. And today we don’t want to believe it, but it’s true.’
ON SANCTIONS
‘They are trying to blackmail us again. They are threatening us again with sanctions, which, by the way, I think they will introduce anyway as Russia’s sovereignty strengthens and the power of our armed forces grows. And a pretext for another sanctions attack will always be found or fabricated. Regardless of the situation in Ukraine. There is only one goal – to restrain the development of Russia. And they will do it, as they did before. Even without any formal pretext at all. Just because we exist, and we will never compromise our sovereignty, national interests and our values. I want to say clearly and directly that in the current situation, when our proposals for an equal dialogue on fundamental issues have actually remained unanswered by the United States and NATO, when the level of threats to our country is increasing significantly, Russia has every right to take retaliatory measures to ensure its own security. That is exactly what we will do.’
President Biden called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and convened a meeting of his National Security team after Putin signed the decree.
Zelensky revealed the call with Biden on Twitter Monday and said they ‘discussed the events of the last hours’.
‘We begin the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council,’ he posted, adding: ‘A conversation with [UK Prime Minister] Boris Johnson is also planned.’
Mr Johnson’s spokesman said that it appears Putin’s invasion plan has ‘already begun’ while Ms Truss, after meeting with NATO, said an invasion appears ‘highly likely’ but that diplomacy must continue until the last moment.
There are now thought to be 190,000 Russian troops on the border of Ukraine comprising around three quarters of its conventional forces backed by 500 fighter jets, 50 heavy bombers, and dozens of attack helicopters.
The Kremlin denies it has plans to attack, but Western allies say Putin is trying to concoct a pretext to invade by stirring up conflict in two breakaway eastern regions – Donetsk and Luhansk – and staging ‘false flag’ attacks to justify marching his troops in on a mission to ‘protect’ them.
Should Russia go ahead with its attack, the US has warned the UN security council that Moscow has prepared a list of targets for assassination and imprisonment in detention camps.
Officials say the list includes anyone who might oppose the Kremlin – including political figures, journalists, Russian and Belarusian dissidents sheltering in the country, ethnic minorities and members of the LGBTQ community.
‘As we’ve seen in the past, we expect Russia will try to force cooperation through intimidation and repression,’ a US official told Foreign Policy magazine on Friday, before a letter containing the allegations was sent to the US on Monday.
‘These acts, which in past Russian operations have included targeted killings, kidnappings/forced disappearances, detentions, and the use of torture, would likely target those who oppose Russian actions.
‘[That] includes Russian and Belarusian dissidents in exile in Ukraine, journalists and anti-corruption activists, and vulnerable populations such as religious and ethnic minorities and LGBT persons.’
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the claims an ‘absolute lie’.
Heavy shelling was reported along the frontline at the weekend, leaving several Ukrainian troops dead, following what Russian state media claimed were terror attacks targeting top officials and a gas pipeline in the two regions – which the West said was staged.
Fighting continued on Monday, with separatist commanders alleging that artillery had been fired into the Donetsk region and struck a hospital with ‘clashes’ reported near Mariupol. Russia separately claimed that a Ukrainian shell had blown up a guard post in Rostov-on-Don. Ukraine denies firing at either separatist or Russian territory.
The Kremlin has also been pushing claims that ‘mass graves’ containing the bodies of civilians killed by Ukrainian troops have been discovered in the region, and today submitted documents containing those allegations to the UN Security Council.
Tens of of thousands of civilians – mostly women, children and the elderly – have now being evacuated from rebel-held areas into Russia due to the ‘threat’. Fighting-age men have been ordered to stay behind under the threat of legal sanctions if they try to leave.
In what appeared to be a last-ditch diplomatic gambit brokered with the aid of French President Emmanuel Macron, the White House said Biden has agreed ‘in principle’ to a meeting with Putin as long as he holds off on launching an assault. But the Kremlin said no ‘concrete’ plans had been made.
It is the second time that Emmanuel Macron, who has tried to position himself as Europe’s top security negotiator, has been embarrassed by Moscow – given guarantees which were revoked when he made them public. Two weeks ago he claimed Putin had agreed to stop military drills on Ukraine’s border, which Russia immediately denied.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration has been clear that ‘we are committed to pursuing diplomacy until the moment an invasion begins.’
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are set to meet on Thursday in Europe – as long as Russia does not send its troops into Ukraine beforehand.
‘We are always ready for diplomacy. We are also ready to impose swift and severe consequences should Russia instead choose war,’ Psaki said in statement.
‘And currently, Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine very soon.’
Despite the threat, life in the capital Kiev outwardly continued as usual for many Sunday, with brunches and church services, ahead of what Biden said late last week was an already decided-upon Russian attack.
Katerina Spanchak, who fled a region of eastern Ukraine when it was taken over by Russian-allied separatists, was among worshippers crowded into the capital’s St. Michael’s monastery, smoky with the candles burned by the faithful, to pray that Ukraine be spared.
Video shows another Russian field hospital established in the Belgorod region, near the border with Ukraine, amid fears it marks one of the final preparations for an attack
‘We all love life, and we are all united by our love of life,’ Spanchak said, pausing to compose herself. ‘We should appreciate it every day. That’s why I think everything will be fine.’
‘Our joint prayers will help to elude this tragedy, which is advancing,’ said another worshipper, who identified himself only by his first name, Oleh.
A U.S. official said Sunday that Biden’s assertion that Putin has made the decision to roll Russian forces into Ukraine was based on intelligence that Russian front-line commanders have been given orders to begin final preparations for an attack. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the sensitive intelligence.
The United States and many European countries have charged for weeks that Putin has built up the forces he needs to invade Ukraine – a westward-looking democracy that has sought to move out of Russia’s orbit – and is now trying to create pretexts to invade.
Western nations have threatened massive sanctions if Putin does.
U.S. officials on Sunday defended their decision to hold off on their planned financial punishments of Russia ahead of any invasion, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called passionately Saturday for the West to do more.
‘If you pull the trigger on that deterrent, well then, it doesn’t exist anymore as a deterrent,’ Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told Fox on Washington’s sanctions threat.
Russia held nuclear drills Saturday as well as the conventional exercises in Belarus, and has ongoing naval drills off the coast in the Black Sea.
The announcement that Russia was reversing its pledge to withdraw its forces from Belarus came after two days of sustained shelling along a contact line between Ukraine’s soldiers and Russian-allied separatists in eastern Ukraine, an area that Ukraine and the West worry could be the flashpoint in igniting conflict.
Joe Biden will issue sanctions on the two regions declared ‘independent republics’ by Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday in his first real move toward full-scale invasion.
The absence of sanctions directly on Russia or Putin was immediately met with backlash from those who said the administration isn’t doing enough in response to the latest Russian movements and announcements.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki assured that there will be further measures taken in coordination with U.S. allies and partners if Russia further invades Ukraine.
‘We are continuing to closely consult with Allies and partners, including Ukraine, on next steps and on Russia’s ongoing escalation along the border with Ukraine,’ she wrote.
Biden almost immediately called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and convened a meeting of his National Security team after Vladimir Putin slammed the U.S. for ‘colonizing’ Ukraine and using it as a ‘puppet regime’ in remarks where he announced he would sign a decree recognizing two eastern regions of Ukraine as independent states.
The president also hopped on a secure call with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shortly after Putin’s remarks.
‘We have anticipated a move like this from Russia and are ready to respond immediately,’ Psaki wrote in her Monday statement following Putin’s remarks.
‘President Biden will soon issue an Executive Order that will prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine,’ she detailed, adding ‘the Departments of State and Treasury will have additional details shortly.’
‘We will also soon announce additional measures related to today’s blatant violation of Russia’s international commitments,’ Psaki added.
A bipartisan group of 21 lawmakers pledged on Monday to ‘work toward whatever emergency supplemental legislation will best support our NATO allies and the people of Ukraine.’
‘No matter what happens in the coming days, we must assure that the dictator Putin and his corrupt oligarchs pay a devastating price for their decisions,’ they wrote.
Zelensky said he discussed with Biden on Monday afternoon ‘the events of the last hours’.
‘We begin the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council,’ he posted, adding: ‘A conversation with [UK Prime Minister] Boris Johnson is also planned.’
The White House confirmed that Biden did have a roughly 35-minutes call with Zelelnsky.
Biden convened the National Security Council at the White House on Russia’s military buildup around Ukraine. White House officials released no immediate details of their roughly two hours of discussion.
‘We’re talking about the potential for war in Europe,’ U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said earlier Sunday at a security conference in Munich, Germany, that saw urgent consultations among world leaders on the crisis. ‘It’s been over 70 years, and through those 70 years … there has been peace and security.’
Zelenskyy on Sunday appealed on Twitter for a cease-fire. Russia has denied plans to invade, but the Kremlin did not respond to Zelenskyy’s offer Saturday to meet with Putin.
After a call with Macron, Putin blamed Ukraine – incorrectly, according to observers there – for the escalation of shelling along the contact line and NATO for ‘pumping modern weapons and ammunition’ into Ukraine.
Macron, a leader in European efforts to broker a peaceful resolution with Russia, also spoke separately to Zelenskyy, to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and to Biden.
Blinken intentionally raised the prospect of a Biden-Putin summit in interviews with U.S. television networks on Sunday, in a bid to keep diplomacy alive, a senior U.S. official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss U.S. reasoning.
Blinken said that Biden was ‘prepared to meet President Putin at any time in any format if that can help prevent a war’ and the U.S. official said Macron had then conveyed the offer of talks to Putin – conditioned on Russia not invading – in his phone calls with the Russian leader.
Tensions mounted further, however. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued an advisory urging greater caution by Americans in Russia overall. ‘Have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance,’ it warned.
Immediate worries focused on eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces have been fighting the pro-Russia rebels since 2014 in a conflict that has killed some 14,000 people.
In the eastern Ukraine regions of Lugansk and Donetsk, separatist leaders have ordered a full military mobilization and sent more civilians to Russia, which has issued about 700,000 passports to residents of the rebel-held territories. Claims that Russian citizens are being endangered might be used as justification for military action.
Officials in the separatist territories claimed Ukrainian forces launched several artillery attacks over the past day and that two civilians were killed during an unsuccessful assault on a village near the Russian border. Ukraine’s military said two soldiers died in firing from the separatist side on Saturday.
‘When tension is escalated to the maximum, as it is now, for example, on the line of contact, then any spark, any unplanned incident or any minor planned provocation can lead to irreparable consequences,’ Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said in an interview that aired Sunday on Russian state television.
On the front lines, Ukrainian soldiers said they were under orders not to return fire. Zahar Leshushun, peering into the distance with a periscope, had followed the news all day from a trench where he is posted near the town of Zolote.
‘Right now, we don’t respond to their fire because …’ the soldier said before the sound of an incoming shell interrupted him. ‘Oh! They are shooting at us now. They are aiming at the command post.’
Russian attack helicopters are pictured taking part in joint drills in Belarus on Sunday, as the Kremlin announced the drills will not end as expected but will be extended to an unknown date – meaning 30,000 troops remain in the country
Smoke rises into the air after Russian attack helicopters blew up a target on a firing range in Belarus during joint training exercises on Sunday – amid fears of an invasion
Tanks and armoured vehicles of the Russian and Belarusian militaries take part in training exercises at the weekend, shortly before the Kremlin announced the drill will be extended and its forces will remain in the country
Russian and Belarussian machine-gunners take part in joint training exercises in Belarus at the weekend
Russian troop tents and tanks (left and centre) are seen near a forested area of the Belgorod region, close to the border with Ukraine, on Sunday amid fears the order to attack will be given soon
Russian troops and tanks (left) are shown parked up next to attack helicopters (centre) near the town of Valuyki, Belgorod region, close to the border with Ukraine
Russian tanks and trucks are seen parked in the tree line of a forest in the Belgorod region of Russia (right) in an apparent attempt to hide them from prying satellites
A satellite image shows additional armor and equipment deployed along a tree line, near Valuyki, Russia
A satellite image shows an overview of a new deployment, east of Valuyki, Russia
On Friday, separatist officials announced the evacuation of civilians and military mobilization in the face of what they described as an imminent Ukrainian offensive on the rebel regions. Ukrainian officials have strongly denied any plans to launch such an attack and described the evacuation order as part of Russian provocations intended to set the stage for an invasion.
The separatist authorities said Monday that at least four civilians were killed by Ukrainian shelling over the past 24 hours and several others were injured. Ukraine’s military said two Ukrainian soldiers were killed over the weekend, and another serviceman was wounded Monday.
Ukrainian military spokesman Pavlo Kovalchyuk said the Ukrainian positions were shelled 80 times Sunday and eight times early Monday, noting that the separatists were ‘cynically firing from residential areas using civilians as shields.’ He insisted that Ukrainian forces weren’t returning fire.
In the village of Novognativka on the government-controlled side, 60-year-old Ekaterina Evseeva, said the shelling was worse than at the height of fighting early in the conflict.
‘It’s worse than 2014,’ she said, her voice trembling. ‘We are on the edge of nervous breakdowns. And there is nowhere to run.’
Evseeva said that residents were hunkering down in basements amid the renewed fighting: ‘Yesterday I saw my neighbor with her 2-month-old as she was running to the basement. It shouldn’t be like this.’
Russian troops and tanks are spotted in a forest area near civilian buildings (bottom left) near Belgorod, just a short distance from the border with Ukraine
Russian military vehicles are spotted formed up into a convoy and heading south next to a highway and near a forest in Soloti, around 10 miles from the Ukraine border
Satellite images reveal Russian tanks and armoured vehicles are now being concealed within civilian areas and forests close to the border, such as these vehicles on farmland near Soloti
Ukrainian troops near the frontlines with pro-Russian separatist forces train using a British NLAW anti-tank missile launcher
A Ukrainian soldier inspects a rocket-propelled grenade in Novognativka village, near the frontlines with pro-Russia separatists, as fighting in the region escalates
Servicemen of Ukrainian Military Forces walk along tranches on their position on the front line with Russia backed separatists, near Novognativka
Moscow denies any plans to invade Ukraine, but wants Western guarantees that NATO won’t allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members. It also urges the alliance to halt weapons deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe – demands flatly rejected by the West.
Russian officials have shrugged off Western calls to deescalate by pulling back troops, arguing that Moscow is free to deploy troops and conduct drills wherever it likes on its territory. Last week, Western officials dismissed Russian statements about some of the troops returning to their bases, saying that Moscow was actually beefing up its forces around Ukraine.
A U.S. official said Sunday that Biden’s assertion last week that Putin has made the decision to roll Russian forces into Ukraine was based on intelligence that Russian front-line commanders have been given orders to begin final preparations for an attack. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the sensitive intelligence.
Russia also upped the ante Saturday with sweeping nuclear drills that included multiple practice launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and cruise missiles that Putin personally oversaw.
Ukraine’s president reaffirmed his call for a quick meeting with Putin to help defuse tensions, but there was no response from the Kremlin.
The European Union’s top diplomat, foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, welcomed the prospect of a Biden-Putin summit but said that should diplomacy fail the 27-nation bloc has finalized its package of sanctions for use if Putin orders an invasion.
‘The work is done. We are ready,’ said Borrell, who is chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers and was tasked with drawing up a list of people in Russia to be hit with asset freezes and travel bans. He provided no details about who might be targeted.
The European Commission has prepared other sanctions to ‘limit the access to financial markets for the Russian economy and (impose) export controls that will stop the possibility for Russia to modernize and diversify its economy,’ its president, Ursula von der Leyen, said over the weekend.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock welcomed Macron’s summit initiative and warned Russia against any false flag action to provoke hostilities. ‘I appeal urgently to the Russian government, to the Russian president: Don’t play with human lives,’ she said as she arrived at the EU top diplomats’ meeting.
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