Ukraine Crisis: Defying West, Putin Orders Troops to Ukraine Rebel Regions
Catch all the live updates on the Russia-Ukraine tensions here.
Russian President Vladimir Putin.
(Photo : Chetan Bhakuni/The Quint)
A long-feared Russian invasion of Ukraine appears to be imminent, with Russian President Vladimir Putin ordering forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine.
Putin’s directive came hours after he recognised the independence of two rebel-held areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk in Ukraine. Putin also signed mutual aid agreements with the leaders of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic and Donetsk People's Republic.
Underscoring the urgency, the UN Security Council set a rare night-time emergency meeting on Monday at the request of Ukraine, the US, and other countries.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, sought to project calm, telling the country: “We are not afraid of anyone or anything. We don’t owe anyone anything. And we won’t give anything to anyone.”
Images captured by Maxar show Russian troops being deployed 15 kilometres away from the Russia-Ukraine border
The US accused Russia of planning to assassinate certain people in Ukraine after it invades the country
Biden said he would consider having direct talks with Putin if Moscow did not attack Kyiv
Russia responded by saying that it's 'premature' to hope for direct talks unless absolutely necessary
Putin has blamed NATO for "pumping modern weapons and ammunition" into Ukraine
Russia has warned against Ukraine joining NATO, a move it feels brings Western Europe closer to the Russian borders
Both NATO and Ukraine have rejected this demand
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Background
Tensions have been simmering between Russia, Ukraine, NATO, and the US, that had led Russia to mobilise more than 100,000 troops at the Ukrainian border.
One of the key disagreements between Russia and the other countries revolves around Ukraine potentially joining NATO.
Russia has warned against the move, while the Ukrainian Constitution consists of clauses that seek NATO membership for the country.
Putin has two other key demands from NATO:
The removal of NATO troops from Eastern European countries that joined after 1997
An assurance that NATO countries will not install missile systems on Russia’s borders
You can read about the crisis in detail here. A brief history and background of Russo-Ukrainian tensions can be found here.
Putin Blames NATO for ‘Pumping Weapons’ in Ukraine
After a call with French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed NATO for "pumping modern weapons and ammunition" into Ukraine.
As per a Kremlin statement, Putin and Macron discussed the supply of weapons and ammunition by NATO countries to Ukraine, which the Kremlin said was pushing Kyiv towards a "military solution" against separatists in the country’s east.
Biden Agrees To Meet Putin If Russia Does Not Attack
The Elysee Palace in France released a statement on 20 February, announcing that both Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin have agreed 'on principle' to have a summit meet in order to "discuss security and strategic stability in Europe".
Biden would consider having direct talks with Putin as long as Russia did not invade Ukraine, White House officials said.
The statement, which came after Macron spoke to both Biden and Putin, also stated that the summit "can only be held at the condition that Russia does not invade Ukraine".
Additionally, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken promised that Biden was ready to talk to Putin and that Washington would seek a diplomatic solution until Russian "tanks are actually rolling," news agency AFP reported.
Satellite Images Show Russian Troops 15 Km Away From Border
A US space technology company called Maxar released satellite images on 21 February showing Russian troops and armoured equipment being deployed to farms and forests that around 15 kilometres away from the Russia-Ukraine border.
Captured on Sunday, the photos show the troop deployments near the Russian side of the border.
The Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine, which is controlled by Russian separatists, are reportedly showing "a change in the pattern of the previously observed deployments", The Guardian reported.
US Accuses Russia of Compiling 'Kill List'
The US government has written to the UN human rights chief in Geneva saying it has "credible information" that Russia has a list of Ukrainian citizens to be assassinated or sent to detention camps in the scenario of a successful Russian invasion and occupation of Ukraine, according to reports on Monday, 21 February.
The names on the list are mostly likely to be Ukrainians vocally opposed to Russia's current military policy, dissidents from Russia and Belarus currently residing in Ukraine, along with journalists, and anti-corruption crusaders.
"We also have credible information that Russian forces will likely use lethal measures to disperse peaceful protests or otherwise counter peaceful exercises of perceived resistance from civilian populations," said the letter.
It was signed by the US ambassador to the United Nations office in Geneva, and was addressed to Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights.
Ukraine Accuses Separatists of violating Ceasefire
The Ukrainian military has accused separatists in Eastern Ukraine supported by Russia of committing 80 ceasefire violations throughout Sunday, 20 February.
A statement released by the Ukrainian government listed out all the 80 violations that occurred in the rebel controlled territories.
No casualties, however, were reported.
The accusation comes after increased instances of shelling in eastern Ukraine.
Evacuations of residents to Russia have started in separatist-controlled Donetsk and Luhansk.
Russia Plays Down 'Premature' Summit Plans
Dmitri Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday, 21 February that it's "premature" to hope for a summit between Putin and US President Joe Biden
While stating that Putin and Biden could meet if absolutely necessary, Peskov asserted that it was "premature to talk about specific plans for a summit".
Russia Says Ukrainian Shell Destroyed Post
In a statement, press officials of the Russian intelligence agency FSB announced that "on February 21, at 9:50 AM, a shell of an unknown type, fired from Ukrainian territory, completely destroyed the place of work of guards from the border department of Russia’s Federal Security Service in the Rostov region."
MP Minister Expresses Concern for Stranded Indian Students
Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said on Monday, 21 February, that the central government led by the BJP was concerned about the students stranded in Ukraine.
"The Central government has issued an advisory on this. Arrangements of aircraft etc have been made to get the students back. Everyone is concerned about the situation, including Prime Minister, Chief Minister and state government," Mishra said.
Russian Army Says Killed 5 'Saboteurs' from Ukraine on Russian Territory: Report
The Russian Army has said it has killed five 'saboteurs' from Ukraine on Russian territory, news agency AFP reported.
"As a result of clashes, five people who violated the Russian border from a group of saboteurs were killed," the military said in a statement.
The military said that the incident took place near the village of Mityakinskaya in the Rostov region at 06:00 am (0300 GMT).
Ukraine Rejects Russian Army's Report, Calls it 'Fake News'
Ukraine, on Monday, rejected the Russian Army's report, and called it fake news. Ukraine said that no Ukrainian forces were present in the Rostov region where the incident was alleged to have taken place.
"No, Ukraine did NOT: attack Donetsk or Lugansk, send saboteurs or APCs (armoured personnel carriers) over the Russian border, shell Russian territory, shell Russian border crossing, conduct acts of sabotage," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a tweet.
"Ukraine also does NOT plan any such actions. Russia, stop your fake-producing factory now," he wrote.
'No Prospects' for Peace Plan to End Ukraine Conflict: Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday said that he no longer felt that a "2015 plan agreed with France, Germany and Kyiv" would be able to resolve Ukraine's separatist conflict, reported AFP.
Moscow Considering Recognising Independence of East Ukraine's Two Separatist Republics, Decision to Be Made Today
Moscow is considering recognising the independence of east Ukraine's two separatist republics, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday, AFP reported. Even the Russian parliament has asked Putin to recognise the two territories, which happen to be pro-Moscow.
Putin presided over a meeting of his Security Council on Monday, which was aired on state television for more than 90 minutes.
"I have heard your opinions. The decision will be taken today," he said after the meeting.
Defying West, Putin Orders Troops to Ukraine Rebel Regions
President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops into two Moscow-backed rebel regions of Ukraine on Monday, defying Western threats of sanctions in a move that could set off a potentially catastrophic war with Kyiv.
Earlier, the Kremlin leader recognised the independence of two rebel-held areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine, paving the way for an operation to deploy part of the potential invasion force he has massed around the country.
In two official decrees, Putin instructed the defence ministry to assume "the function of peacekeeping" in the separatist-held regions.
US Announces Sanctions on Russia-Backed Separatist Regions
The recognition of the breakaway republics, which form an enclave held by Russia-backed rebels since 2014, triggered international condemnation and a promise of targeted sanctions from the United States and the European Union - with a broader package of economic punishment to come in the event of invasion.
The White House issued an executive order to prohibit US investment and trade in the separatist regions, and additional measures – likely sanctions – were to be announced Tuesday.
Those sanctions are independent of what Washington has prepared in the event of a Russian invasion, according to a report by AP.
Ukraine President Seeks to Maintain Calm
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky convened a meeting of his national security council and had telephone calls with several world leaders in a bid to shore up support.
"We expect clear support steps and effective support steps from our partners," he declared in a late night televised address, vowing that Kyiv was not afraid of anyone.
"It is very important to see now who is our true friend and partner, and who will continue to scare the Russian Federation with words," he said.
"We are on our own land."
World Leaders Condemn Putin's Move
US President Joe Biden, France's Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned that Moscow's gambit "would not go unanswered".
The US announced sanctions, with the White House saying Biden will issue an executive order to "prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by US persons to, from, or in" the two rebel regions.
A French presidential official said the European Union was preparing a list of Russian entities and individuals to sanction in a "proportionate" response to the recognition.
The UN has also denounced the "order to deploy Russian troops into eastern Ukraine".
US Sends Diplomats in Ukraine to Poland
The US said it is sending all of its diplomats in Ukraine to Poland out of security fears, after Russia ordered troops into two rebel regions of Ukraine.
"For security reasons, Department of State personnel currently in Lviv will spend the night in Poland" said Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
UN Holds Emergency Security Council Meeting
The UN is holding an emergency Security Council meeting on the Ukraine crisis on Tuesday.
Diplomats told AFP that Russia, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council, eventually accepted US demands it be an open meeting.
Attack on Ukraine's Status as UN Member State: US at UNSC Meet
Speaking at the UNSC meeting, the US said, "Russia's clear attack on Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty is unprovoked. It is an attack on Ukraine's status as a UN member state. It violates basic principles of international law."
Escalation of Tension a Matter of Deep Concern: India at UNSC Meet
India at the meeting said that it has been closely following the evolving developments relating to Ukraine and the related announcement by Russia.
"The escalation of tension along the border of Ukraine with the Russian Federation is a matter of deep concern," India said, adding that these developments have the potential to undermine peace and security of the region.