The Russia-Ukraine crisis just got messier. Russia recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine - Donetsk and Luhansk – as independent. Moscow even passed a decree and announced themselves as allies of the separatist regions.
#Ukraine: Footage of #Russia’s military “peacekeepers” being bussed in to the Donbas across the border. This is essentially the beginning of the invasion. pic.twitter.com/7pUgkJrJzQ
— Jake Hanrahan (@Jake_Hanrahan) February 21, 2022
Here are the latest updates:
1. According to reports, Moscow has sent military troops into the two regions as a ‘peacekeeping’ force. Russia’s move has sent alarm bells ringing even louder in the offices of NATO and allies. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy phoned his counterparts in the US, UK and France following Russia’s announcement.
The decree Putin just signed instructing the deployment of troops to the Donbas in east #Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/mCqUTFmBk3
— Jake Hanrahan (@Jake_Hanrahan) February 21, 2022
2. Ukraine called back its Moscow diplomat for consultations on February 22, 2022, soon after Kremlin said that if Kyiv cuts diplomatic ties with Moscow, then it would make 'everything even more difficult'. President Zelenskyy was also reported by AFP as saying that they would consider cutting off all ties with Russia.
#BREAKING Ukraine recalls top envoy to Moscow 'for consultations': ministry pic.twitter.com/hUz2iJyBYt
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) February 22, 2022
3. The United Nations called on a rare emergency meeting during the night of February 21, 2022, Monday, following the developments. Ukraine, US and allies all attended the meeting. Moreover, President Zelenksyy reacting to the development said that Ukraine was not afraid of Russia.
“We are not afraid of anyone or anything. We don’t owe anyone anything. And we won’t give anything to anyone,” he said.
VIDEO: 'We are not afraid of anything or anyone.'"We are on our own land. We are not afraid of anything or anyone", says Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky after Russia ordered its troops into eastern Ukraine pic.twitter.com/aYp50XXUzh
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) February 22, 2022
4. President Zelenskyy also warned that by forging an alliance with the two separatist regions, Russia may be creating a legal basis for its further military aggression, despite breaking all international agreements. He urged the world leaders to announce strong actions or sanctions against Russia.
5. India was also present at the meeting, and called for a de-escalation of the situation, saying that the world cannot afford a war. The first flight ferrying Indian students back from Ukraine landed on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. India has already called back families of its diplomats in Ukraine.
The escalation of tension along the border of Ukraine with the Russian Federation is a matter of deep concern. These developments have the potential to undermine peace and security of the region: India's Permanent Rep to United Nations TS Tirumurti, at UNSC meet on Ukraine pic.twitter.com/LzJohFcIDv
— ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2022
6. Russia’s aggressions have been met by calls for sanctions in the West. The UK, France and Germany have all agreed to announce sanctions on Russia. The decisions have major consequences as the UK and Germany notably are reliant on Russian energy and gas.
President Putin has violated Ukrainian sovereignty and international law by sending troops into eastern Ukraine. We will immediately institute a package of economic sanctions targeting Russian economic interests. pic.twitter.com/RUucmNijFg
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) February 22, 2022
7. According to a Reuters report, the European Union sanctions package (not yet implemented) also includes the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that connects Russia to Germany and can power a lot of Europe. The pipeline has been filled with gas but is not yet operational.
8. On Tuesday, February 22, 2022, Germany decided to suspend the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project with Russia. It had been concerned about the future of its energy supplier if a Russia-Ukraine war breaks out, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz had avoided mentioning the topic in most discussions earlier before the recent decision.
#BREAKING Chancellor Scholz says Germany suspends Nord Stream 2 pipeline project with Russia pic.twitter.com/ksqysZrHYO
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) February 22, 2022
9. The US announced sanctions on the two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and plans to sanction Russia too. The US is currently banning any business activity by its citizens with the two separatist regions and also banning all transactions from the two regions.
I have signed an Executive Order to deny Russia the chance to profit from its blatant violations of international law. We are continuing to closely consult with Allies and partners, including Ukraine, on next steps. pic.twitter.com/ZS81ivAPgs
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 22, 2022
10. While an open military conflict has not yet taken place between Ukraine and Russia, with the Russian troops moving into the separatist regions, there is a possibility of that happening soon.
11. Russia’s actions, though violating the Minsk agreement (which among other things doesn’t allow foreign military presence in the separatist regions) are in line with what it did with Georgia. In 2008, Russia recognised the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two separatist regions in Georgia, a former Soviet Union country. Moscow in this case too moved its troops into the region, spelling a short war between the two countries. Using this tactic, Russia was able to set Georgia back in joining NATO, by denying it full control over its own territory.
I covered 2008 Russia-Georgia War. First potshots and shelling from separatist region whose residents Putin had given Russian passports, then baseless Kremlin claims of "genocide" and massive invasion by Russian troops who had just finished exercises. Not exactly a new playbook.
— Lucian Kim (@Lucian_Kim) February 18, 2022
12. UK’s Health Minister Sajid Javid said that Russia with its actions has clearly said that it is looking for confrontation and not dialogue. Javid also raised concerns that the current situation is as grave as the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, which brought the US and the Soviet Union to the brink of a nuclear war. Even UK PM Boris Johnson said that Russia seems to be bent on an invasion.
13. Speaking of nuclear weapons, Moscow recently carried out its annual strategic nuclear weapons exercises, called Grom or Thunder. Surely the timing and the message to Russia's rivals were clear.
14. Premiers and representatives of various countries including Italy, Estonia, Sweden, Turkey and more condemned Russia's actions with regards to the two Ukrainian territories infested with separatist fighting.
#BREAKING Turkey's Erdogan slams recognition of Ukraine rebel republics as 'unacceptable': official agency pic.twitter.com/QBaLMCGXgE
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) February 22, 2022
If you're gonna listen to any speech about #Ukraine ??, let it be this one.The Kenya ambassador to the UNSC perfectly explains how people across Africa understand Ukraine, and what the Kremlin's acts of aggression mean in our post-colonial world. pic.twitter.com/0gTuAni0DC
— Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) February 22, 2022
It needs to be seen how far Russia will take the crisis. There is a possibility that Kremlin may be planning a long-drawn-out conflict instead of an imminent war, mostly to tire out Ukraine's allies.