Dhe Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the deployment of troops to eastern Ukraine. The units are to ensure peace in the “Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics”, which Moscow now recognizes as independent states, according to a decree signed by the Kremlin chief late Monday evening in Moscow. It was initially unclear when soldiers would move into the areas controlled by pro-Russian separatists.
Putin had previously decided to recognize the separatist areas in eastern Ukraine as independent states. This decision is overripe, Putin said in a speech to the Russian people that was broadcast in the evening. He asked the two chambers of the Russian parliament, which will meet in special sessions for this purpose on Tuesday, to support the decision and ratify cooperation agreements with the two republics. The contracts would be presented in the shortest possible time.
Germany, the United States and France have sharply condemned the recognition of the independence of the self-proclaimed People’s Republics and announced a reaction. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, America’s President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed in a conversation that there was a clear breach of the Minsk peace agreement for eastern Ukraine, said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit on Monday evening. This step will not go unanswered. “The partners agreed not to let up in their commitment to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.”
Putin speaks of alleged attacks
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US sanctions order “is intended to prevent Russia from benefiting from this blatant violation of international law.” The punitive measures were not directed against the Ukrainian people or the Ukrainian government and allowed humanitarian and other activities to continue in these regions.
Putin justified the decision to recognize the “people’s republics” with alleged attacks by Ukraine on Donetsk and Luhansk. The nationalist and neo-Nazi “regime” that came to power in Ukraine as a result of the “coup d’état” in 2014 has no other solution to these conflicts than violence. Putin called on the Ukrainian leadership to end the alleged hostilities immediately. Otherwise, she bears full responsibility for all further bloodshed.
A Western “colony with a puppet regime”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz had previously warned Putin against recognizing the “people’s republics”. Such a step would be “in blatant contradiction” to the Minsk agreements and would be a “unilateral breach” of these agreements by Russia. After a council of EU foreign ministers, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell threatened Moscow with the consequences: “If there is recognition, I will put the sanctions on the table and the ministers will decide.” He wants to convene the ministers to make this happen could. However, several diplomats pointed out that Borrell had not discussed his surprise advance beforehand. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel jointly said: “The Union will respond with sanctions against those involved in this illegal act.” They downgraded Borrell’s threat of economic and financial sanctions to measures against individuals.