Samantha Maiden: The tactics of Western nations have been to get personal

Western countries – and Australia – have been getting personal over Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine. The question is does Putin care, writes Samantha Maiden.

“Thugs and bullies,” was Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s blunt response to Russia’s military action in Ukraine.

“This invasion is unjustified. It’s unwarranted. It’s unprovoked and it’s unacceptable,’’ he said.

“They’re behaving like thugs and bullies, and they should be called out as thugs and bullies.

“And quite sadly, and tragically, the sheer force of that violence of a thug and bully is about to be impacted upon the people of Ukraine.”

Whether you want to describe Russia’s military action as an incursion or an invasion is to some extent semantics.

“The invasion of Ukraine has effectively already begun,’’ the Prime Minister said.

Mr Morrison said a full scale invasion of Ukraine was now likely to occur within the next 24 hours.

“And there are even reports already of shelling and things of that nature, which could indicate that it has already begun,’’ he said.

Russia is engaged in the largest military build-up in Europe since the cold war. An estimated 200,000 troops are massing on its borders. So how did we arrive at this point?

President Vladimir Putin’s first major deployment of Russian troops this week is into territory that is internationally recognised as Ukrainian but has been controlled by Russian-backed separatists since 2014.

Russian President Vladimir Putin Picture: AFP

And of course, Russia has been laying the groundwork for years, issuing Russian passports to 800,000 Ukrainians in the two separatist regions since 2019.

So what is the Russian President’s justification for the invasion? On Monday, he recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent entities allowing Russia to immediately grant the regions `”requests” for Russian peacekeeping operations.

“I deem it necessary to make a decision that should have been made a long time ago – to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic,’’ President Putin said.

He then delivered an hour-long history of the region, which largely amounted to the idea it never existed.

“Modern Ukraine was entirely created by Russia, more precisely, Bolshevik, communist Russia. This process began immediately after the revolution of 1917,’’ he said.

“Ukraine is an inalienable part of our own history, culture and spiritual space. These are our comrades, those dearest to us – not only colleagues, friends and people who once served together, but also relatives, people bound by blood, by family ties.”

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces sanctions on top Russian officials. Picture: AFP

In other words, he is arguing the international rule of law does not apply.

As for sanctions? President Putin indicated he would not be moved.

“They are trying to blackmail us again,’’ he said.

“They are threatening us again with sanctions, which, by the way, I think they will introduce anyway as Russia’s sovereignty strengthens and the power of our armed forces grows. And a pretext for another sanctions attack will always be found or fabricated. Regardless of the situation in Ukraine.”

“Other countries – and I’ve been discussed this with other leaders – they haven’t taken those decisions as yet but we will see where this proceeds.”

Emerging from a meeting of the national security committee, the Prime Minister confirmed he had spoken to Governor-General David Hurley to impose targeted financial sanctions and travel bans.

The tactics of Western nations have been to get personal. The US and European allies are threatening to hit Russia financially like never before.

Some reports have even suggested that could include targeting President Putin’s rumoured mistress and mother of his children.

“This is only the start of this process. We are working with our partners to identify additional individuals that will be subject to the sanctions,’’ Mr Morrison said.

“Initially, we will impose travel bans and targeted financial sanctions on eight members of the Security Council of the Russian Federation,’’ he said.

“These sanctions will significantly expand the scope of persons and I stress entities that Australia can list for targeted financial sanctions and travel bans is included, including to capture persons and entities or what is termed strategic and economic significance to Russia.”

In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced targeted sanctions against five banks and three individuals accused of financing firms in Crimea or Russia’s defence sector.

“We want to stop Russian companies from being able to raise funds in sterling or, indeed, in dollars,” Mr Johnson said.

“We want them to stop raising funds on UK markets and we want to strip away the veil that conceals the ownership of property in this country.”

Australia’s sanctions are also likely to ensure that if Russian investors with links to President Putin are locked out of London that they cannot find a safe haven in Australia.

Millions of dollars in Russian money is tied up in London real estate, although the links in Australia are less clear.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has described President Putin’s Ukraine declaration as invalid under international law, insisting the Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain independent states.

“Along with our partners, we are prepared to announce swift and severe sanctions that would target key Russian individuals and entities responsible for undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” she said.

Australians in Ukraine are being urged to leave.

For now, Australia is not talking about expelling Russian diplomats.

But Mr Morrison didn’t rule it out.