Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized two regions in Ukraine as independent and ordered Russian troops to conduct “peacekeeping” operations there, raising fears that Russia is paving the way for an attack.
Putin’s declaration named the two regions the Luhansk People’s Republic and the Donetsk People’s Republic. Both are unrecognized territories carved out by Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine after fighting broke out there against Ukrainian government forces in 2014.
The United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday evening U.S. representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield warned that Putin’s ambitions reach beyond Ukraine, and that he has asserted Russia’s claims to all former territory of the former Russian Empire.
«Putin wants the world to travel back in time.
» Russia’s Vasily Nebenzya in turn accused Ukraine of aggression and of shelling civilians in the Donbas conflict, while Ukrainian representative Sergiy Kyslytsya said Russia’s recognition of the regions was “illegal and illegitimate”.
Speaking to his country’s citizens earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Putin’s actions were a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. In a highly staged meeting earlier Monday, Putin met with members of his security council, who urged the president to take this action, citing Ukrainian intransigence on implementing the Minsk accords.
The Russian-backed rebel leaders of the self-proclaimed republics urged Putin earlier on Monday to recognize their independence and provide security guarantees.
The U.S. has said Russia has amassed up to 190,000 troops on its border with Ukraine. Psaki says the administration will have more announcements soon “related to today’s blatant violation of Russia’s international commitments” that are separate from the economic consequences to be imposed if Russia invades Ukraine.
White House says Russian troops in Donbas ‘would not itself be a new step’
The U.S. denounced the Russian move, the White House downplayed the significance, telling reporters that Russian forces moving into the Donbas would not be a further invasion of Ukraine because Russian troops have been in the region since 2014, despite denials from Moscow.
Russian troops moving into the Donbas would not itself be a new step.
Security Council appears to be proceeding exactly as we predicted.
The official said, referring to false-flag events, Putin’s security council meeting and the declaration of independent republics in eastern Ukraine.
