Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the deployment of Russian military into the Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk, recognizing them as breakaway independent states in a televised interview earlier today (22 February), according to The Washington Post.
According to The Guardian, Putin described Ukraine as being a colony and that they never had “authentic statehood”, signing treaties with the leaders of Donetsk and Luhansk, ordering the Russian military into the states for what is described as “peacekeeping duties”.
Putin has ordered Russian troops into Ukraine.
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 21, 2022
The decrees on recognizing the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics order the Russian armed forces to go into separatist territory on peacekeeping missions. pic.twitter.com/cjKMidlD4Q
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged his people during a televised statement, to stay calm, and he called for the country’s allies to respond.
According to the New York Times, Zelensky said that they are “on our own land, we are not afraid of anything or anyone”.
The Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter that he has officially requested the United Nations Security Council to meet and hold discussions to de-escalate the situation, under the initiative of the Ukraine president.
On President @ZelenskyyUa’s initiative I officially requested UNSC member states to immediately hold consultations under article 6 of the Budapest memorandum to discuss urgent actions aimed at de-escalation, as well as practical steps to guarantee the security of Ukraine.
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 21, 2022
The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described Russia’s actions as needing a “swift and firm response”, with the White House and US President Joe Biden reaffirming Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Kremlin recognition of the so-called “Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics” as “independent” requires a swift and firm response, and we will take appropriate steps in coordination with partners.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) February 21, 2022
Joe Biden said that the US and its allies will respond to Putin’s actions, and “strongly condemns” what he has done.
Biden then announced that he has signed an Executive Order to deny Russia the chance to profit from its actions, imposing sanctions on the separatist states.
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
Images source: Vyacheslav Argenberg via Wikipedia Commons and Presidential Press and Information Office of Russia