US, Europe warn Russian invasion has begun, Biden says still time to avoid ‘worst-case scenario’

Talking points

  • US President Joe Biden signalled that he saw Putin’s actions as the start of the invasion of Ukraine. Biden announced the first round of US sanctions.
  • Russian troops have moved into Ukraine’s two breakaway regions, Donetsk and Luhansk, after the Russian parliament voted to recognise all of the historic Donbas, including areas controlled by Ukraine. 
  • NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance believed Russia is still planning a big assault on Ukraine.
  • German Chancellor Olaf Sholz announced he would freeze the $18 billion Nord Stream 2 pipeline project that would import gas from Russia, the toughest of many European sanctions announced overnight. 

Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to send troops into two separatist regions is “the beginning of a Russian invasion of the Ukraine,” US President Joe Biden warned in an address from the White House at 6am AEDT.

Biden announced a first tranche of sanctions on Russia and the deployment of American forces already based in Europe to support NATO. His announcement followed earlier sanctions after the European Union and the UK set out an initial set of limited penalties targeting Moscow.

The measures follow a dramatic escalation of tensions triggered by President Vladimir Putin’s recognition of two self-proclaimed republics in eastern Ukraine, a move that effectively killed eight years of diplomacy. Russia’s upper house on Tuesday gave the green light to Putin to deploy troops to the separatist-held regions.

The rapid series of events – including Germany’s halting of the $18 billion Nord Stream 2 pipeline project that is meant to import gas from Russia – caps weeks of brinkmanship, with the Kremlin insisting it has no plans for a full-scale invasion.

But even now, Biden says there is still time to avert a full-scale war in Europe.

“There no question Russia is the aggressor, so we’re clear-eyed about the challenge… nonetheless, there is still time to avert the worst-case scenario”

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday (AEDT) the alliance believed Russia is still planning a big assault on Ukraine following Moscow’s recognition of two separatist regions in the former Soviet republic’s east.

Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation in the Kremlin.Credit:AP

“Every indication is that Russia is continuing to plan for a full-scale attack of Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said in Brussels. “We continue to call on Russia to step back … it’s never too late not to attack.”

Russia’s parliament approved treaties with the two regions a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was recognising the independence of the two enclaves in eastern Ukraine, which adjoin Russia and have been controlled by Russian-backed fighters since 2014.

Putin said the territory covered the entire Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine, not merely the parts currently controlled by separatists. The move appeared to increase the likelihood of conflict.

Celebrations in Donetsk late on Monday after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the breakaway republic as independent from Ukraine.Credit:AP

He also signed a decree on deploying Russian forces there, and on Tuesday Russia’s upper house of parliament formally granted his request to use troops abroad with immediate effect.

A deputy defence minister asked the chamber to deploy troops in Donbass – an umbrella term for the two regions.

The prospect of a disruption to energy supplies and fears of war – stoked by reports of shelling in some areas and movements of unmarked tanks overnight in the rebel-controlled city of Donetsk – rattled international financial markets and sent oil prices surging to their highest level since 2014.

The European Union is ready to take further action against Russia if Moscow keeps on ramping up its military activity in Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday (AEDT).

Ukraine’s breakaway territories and their historical borders

She spoke shortly after the EU’s foreign ministers agreed to sanction 27 Russians and entities after Moscow recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, as well as banks, the defence sector and limiting Russian access to European capital markets.

“Our action today is a response to Russia’s aggressive behavior”, von der Leyen said during a press conference.

“If Russia continues to escalate this crisis that it has created, we are ready to take further action in response”, she added, also stressing the need for the EU to be less dependent on Russia for gas.

In Donetsk, some residents celebrated, with cars flying Russian flags and sounding their horns. But several blasts were heard in the city on Tuesday, and some people questioned whether Putin’s moves would bring peace.

Germany is Russia’s biggest customer for natural gas, and the decision by Chancellor Olaf Scholz to freeze the Nord Stream 2 pipeline – built but awaiting approval – was widely seen as one of the strongest measures Europe could take.

Scholz said he had asked his economy ministry to take steps to ensure that certification could not take place for now.

“This is a morally, politically and practically correct step in the current circumstances,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted. “True leadership means tough decisions in difficult times. Germany’s move proves just that.”

The Kremlin regretted Germany’s move and said it hoped the delay was temporary. Putin said Russia “aims to continue uninterrupted supplies” of energy to the world.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron meanwhile agreed to continue to work together to target those who supported what Johnson called Putin’s “aggressive approach”.

“Russia’s actions don’t just threaten Ukraine’s sovereignty, but are a blatant attack on freedom and democracy, the leaders agreed,” a joint statement said.

Sanctions so far

The US

Sanctions on Russia’s sovereign debt, the country’s “elites and their family members”, Russian state development corporation VEB.RF and its military bank.
The sovereign debt sanctions, the harshest of the penalties, effectively cut Russia off from western financing and means it will no longer be able to trade in its new debt on US or European markets Biden, who signed an executive order Sunday blocking new investments in the separatist territories by US persons or businesses, said the US will “continue to escalate sanctions if Russia escalates” Meanwhile, lawmakers in Congress haven’t been able to agree on bipartisan package to impose sanctions on Russia.

The UK

Five Russian banks including Bank Rossiya and Promsvyazbank Three individuals saw their assets frozen: Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg and Igor Rotenberg . UK sanctions kick in immediately

The EU

351 members of the Russian parliament Duma who voted for recognising separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, plus another 11 Russians who proposed the recognition. Three Russian banks that finance military or other operations in the separatist-controlled regions of eastern Ukraine: VEB.RF, Bank Rossiya and Promsvyazbank. Restrictions on Russian government to access EU capital and financial markets and services. Trade from the two breakaway regions to and from the EU. EU sanctions still need to be confirmed by member states.

Reuters, Bloomberg

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