Ukraine crisis live: Putin rails against Kyiv and
Nato in televised address
In rambling speech, Russian president said he would
recognise Ukraine’s Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states
Lauren
Aratani (now); Jennifer Rankin and Elias Visontay (earlier)
Mon 21 Feb
2022 21.39 GMTFirst published on Mon 21 Feb 2022 05.21 GMT
24m ago Putin orders troops to descend on eastern
Ukraine for 'peacekeeping operations'
2h ago Putin to recognise independence of
breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine
4h ago Putin 'intends to recognise pro-Russian
breakaway republics'
4h ago Putin to decide on recognising breakaway
regions on Monday
6h ago Summary
6h agoUK defence minister warns Russian invasion
will lead to humanitarian crisis
6h ago Russia 'poised to invade'
From 24m ago
21:34
Putin orders troops to descend on eastern Ukraine for
'peacekeeping operations'
Vladimir
Putin has ordered “peacekeeping operations” to the Donetsk People’s Republic
and Luhansk People’s Republic, the two territories in eastern Ukraine that
Putin recognized as independent today.
Updated at
9.39pm GMT
39m ago
21:19
Daniel
Boffey Daniel Boffey
At the end
of a tense 10-hour meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, the bloc’s
foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, said those attending had been closely
watching the televised Russian security council where Vladimir Putin had
discussed recognition of the independence of the eastern Ukrainian territories
of Donetsk and Luhansk.
There
remain differences of opinion among the 27 member states on what level of
sanctions will be imposed on Russia over recognition.
But Borrell
said he would table the complete prepared package of punitive measures at an
extraordinary meeting of ministers for them to decide by unanimity, and that
Russia should be warned that there would be a “strong and united” response.
He said: “I
will certainly put on the table the sanctions package that has been prepared.
We have a package prepared. This package has certain components that can be
implemented with certain degrees depending on the level of aggression.”
Borrell
said recognition by Russia of the independence of the eastern territories of
Ukraine would be a breach of international law that the EU would not ignore.
The EU will
also hit Belarus with the same level of sanctions as Moscow faces should
Russian troops invade Ukraine from Belarusian territory, Borrell said. The former
Spanish foreign minister said Russia was turning Belarus into a satellite
state.
The EU has
threatened “severe costs and massive consequences” in the event of a further
Russian incursion into Ukraine.
The package
has yet to be made public but it would involve a block on exports of key
electrical components on which Russia is reliant, potentially an import ban on
Russian oil and gas, and the freezing of assets of individuals and companies
affiliated to the government in Moscow.
Updated at
9.21pm GMT
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45m ago
21:13
The UK
foreign secretary, Liz Truss, said that sanctions against Russia would be
announced tomorrow.
54m ago
21:04
Nato
secretary, Jens Stoltenberg, released a
condemning Russia, specifically saying that Russia has violated the
Minsk agreements, “to which Russia is a party”, referring to the peace deal
made in 2015 following the annexation of Crimea. Russian has denied it is
responsible for carrying out the peace deal.
“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,” Stoltenberg said in his statement.
“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.”
Updated at
9.22pm GMT
1h ago
20:51
The UK foreign secretary, Liz Truss, released a
statement that suggests the UK is prepared to take action against Russia for
recognising the independence of two territories in eastern Ukraine.
“This step
represents a further attack on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,
signals an end to the Minsk process and is a violation of the UN charter. It
demonstrates Russia’s decision to choose a path of confrontation over
dialogue,” Truss said.
“We will
coordinate our response with allies. We will not allow Russia’s violation of
its international commitments to go unpunished.”
Updated at
8.55pm GMT
1h ago
20:48
The
Guardian’s Luke Harding, who is in Kyiv, said that Ukraine’s president,
Volodmyr Zelenskiy, will address the nation shortly. His speech will be carried
live on all Ukranian TV channels, officials in Kyiv say.
Updated at
8.55pm GMT
1h ago
20:34
The White House released a statement rebuking Russia’s
recognition of independence for two eastern Ukrainian territories.
The White
House press secretary, Jen Psaki, said in the statement that Joe Biden will be
issuing an executive order that will “prohibit new investment, trade, and
financing by US persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of
Ukraine”.
The
executive order will also allow the imposition of sanctions against “any person
determined to operate in those areas of Ukraine”.
“We will
also soon announce additional measures related to today’s blatant violation of
Russia’s international commitments,” Psaki said in the statement.
“To be
clear: these measures are separate from and would be in addition to the swift
and severe economic measures we have been preparing in coordination with allies
and partners should Russia further invade 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.”
Biden had
calls with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a separate one with
French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier this
afternoo, the White House confirmed. Details of the calls have not been
released.
Updated at
8.47pm GMT
1h ago
20:28
Luke
Harding Luke Harding
Ukraine’s prosecutor general has opened a criminal
case in connection with Vladimir Putin’s move to change the country’s borders.
Irina
Venediktova said she had been forced to act after the Russian president this
evening recognised the Luhansk and Donetsk people’s republics as independent.
Both were Ukrainian territories, she wrote on Facebook.
Venediktova
said she had initiated a case under part two of article 11o of Ukraine’s
criminal code. It forbids deliberate calls to change Ukraine’s borders.
“I don’t
have the right to react emotionally,” she posted. “ I can’t joke, speak in any
language except for the procedural, or send curses to the address of strangers
– all this law does not allow me to do.”
She said
Ukrainian prosecutors would pursue the case vigorously. And she hinted that
Russian officials responsible for the calls would find themselves subject to
travel bans. “Going shopping for members of this club abroad will be difficult
– we promise,” she wrote.
Updated at
8.39pm GMT
2h ago
20:25
Daniel
Boffey Daniel Boffey
Reaction to Putin’s recognition of independence in two
Ukrainian territories continues to pour in from European leaders.
In a joint
statement, Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, the presidents of the
European Commisson and European Council, said: “The recognition of the two
separatist territories in Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law,
the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the Minsk agreements.
“The EU and
its partners will react with unity, firmness and determination in solidarity
with Ukraine”.
Alar Karis,
the president of Estonia, said: “Estonia will never accept the illegal decision
by Russia to recognise Donetsk and Luhansk regions. They are an internationally
recognised part of Ukraine, like Crimea. Clearly, Moscow is not serious about
diplomacy but is looking for casus belli.”
The Latvian
prime minister, Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš, said: “The decision taken by the
president of the Russian Federation to recognise the independence of Luhansk
and Donetsk, the Ukrainian territories outside the government’s control, is a
continuation of the attack on Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and
territorial integrity that began in 2014 by unlawfully changing borders in
Europe.
“In a gross
violation of international law, under a fabricated pretext, and by spreading
false information, Russia seeks to induce a change in Ukraine’s political
leadership and foreign policy course by violent means.
“While
utterly condemning Russia’s actions, Latvia urges the international community
to take the strongest possible measures to stop Russia’s aggression and offer
assistance to Ukraine.
“We call on
the international community to action through putting in place robust economic
sanctions against the Russian Federation and persons responsible for
encroachment on Ukraine’s statehood.”
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