Russia Ukraine news: UK promises to ‘inflict pain’ with sanctions as Vladimir Putin speaks
President Vladimir Putin has appeared in a video address after ordering Russian forces into two rebels regions in eastern Ukraine.
World
Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News.
President Vladimir Putin has appeared in a video address after ordering Russian forces into two rebels regions in eastern Ukraine, sparking fears of all-out war.
Around 10,000 Russian troops have entered the breakaway territories of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine – known collectively as the Donbas region — while Russian authorities have denied Ukraine’s right to sovereignty.
In the video, Putin says he is ready for “diplomatic solutions” surrounding the crisis but Russia’s interests are “non-negotiable”.
The EU has called for sanctions to be extended to Belarus, after new satellite images revealed new Russian military build-up on its soil, just 40km north of the Ukrainian border.
The Ukrainian government made a number of announcements on Wednesday, including the drafting of army reservists aged 18-60.
Ukrainian civilians have also been given the right to carry firearms and defend themselves, after the country‘s parliament voted in favour of the emergency measure.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison addressed the nation to reveal Australia’s response to the crisis, including a string of fresh sanctions.
Stream the latest news on the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine live & on demand on Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. New customers try 14 days free >
Officials in Australia, United Kingdom and United States – including President Joe Biden – have described Russia’s move as an “invasion”, demonstrating a major pivot in language used to describe the unfolding crisis.
Mr Biden vowed to impose tough sanctions in response, and Germany has announced it is halting certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia.
Mr Biden vowed to impose tough sanctions in response, and Germany has announced it is halting certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia
Vladimir Putin appears in new message
President Putin has appeared in a video message to celebrate a Russian public holiday — Fatherland Day.
In a long message to Russians, where he bragged, “we have weapons that are second to none in the world and they are operational”, Mr Putin said the Kremlin is open to “honest dialogue” but warned “the interests of Russia are non-negotiable”.
“Comrade officers,” he said.
“Ensuring that our country can defend itself remains a primary responsibility of government, and the Armed Forces serve as a reliable guarantee of our national security, the peaceful and orderly lives of our people and Russia’s stable and steady development.
“We can see the difficult international situation and the threats posed by current challenges, such as the erosion of the arms control system and NATO’s military activities.
“And yet, Russia’s appeals to build a system of equal and indivisible security that would reliably defend all countries, remain unanswered.
“Our country is always open to a direct and honest dialogue and ready to search for diplomatic solutions to the most complicated issues.
“But I want to repeat that Russia’s interests and the security of our people are an indisputable priority. So, we will continue to strengthen and modernise our Army and Navy, striving to increase their effectiveness, so they are fitted out with the most cutting-edge equipment.
“We will continue to develop promising weapon systems, including hypersonic weapons and those based on new physical principles, and expand the use of advanced digital technology and elements of artificial intelligence. Complexes like these are weapons of the future, which can boost the potential of our Armed Forces several-fold.
“As Supreme Commander-in-Chief, I have confidence in you, Russian soldiers and officers, in your high professionalism, bravery and reliability, that you will guard the peace of our people, and stand up for the national interests of our great country.
“I wish you good health and every success in your service. I want to extend the best wishes to your families and friends.
“Again, my sincere greetings to you on this holiday.”
Ukraine to announce state to emergency
Ukraine is set to annouce a state of emergy as it urged its three million citizens living in Russia to leave the country immediately.
The state of emergency is expected to last approximately 30 days after Ukraine’s security council approved the plan in response to Russia’s advance.
The move must be formally approved by parliament before coming into effect.
Russia began evacuating diplomatic staff from Ukraine, its embassy in Kyiv told AFP, a day after lawmakers in Moscow granted President Vladimir Putin to use force abroad.
Asked if the evacuation had begun, the embassy’s spokesman Denis Golenko told AFP by phone: “Yes.”
Moscow’s foreign ministry announced Tuesday it would evacuate diplomats from the country soon.
Russian ambassador hauled into Canberra meeting
Russia’s ambassador to Australia has been hauled to Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade office.
Alexey Pavlovsky was pictured entering the Canberra building and was inside speaking with the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Defence and Trade Kathryn Campbell for approximately half an hour as Russian troops entered breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.
He avoided the media as he left but the Prime Minister hasn’t ruled out kicking Mr Pavlovsky out of the country.
“We haven’t taken that step,” Mr Morrison said.
“Other countries, and I’ve discussed this with other leaders, they haven’t taken those decisions as yet. But we will see where this proceeds.”
New photos reveal scale of Russia’s ‘invasion’ plans
Newly-released satellite pictures have revealed the extent of Russia’s planned “invasion” of Ukraine.
One of the images, from Maxar Technologies, show a deployment of forces and vehicles in Belarus, north of the border with Ukraine.
Another shows masses of troops in Pochep, western Russia, while a third reveals a new deployment, material support and troops gathered near Belgorod, Russia.
EU’s foreign affairs chief Josep Borrel called for sanctions to be extended to Belarus if an attack is launched by Russian troops from its soil.
“I want to repeat once again that any further aggression against Ukraine will have a strong answer from the European Union,” Mr Borrell said in Brussels following a 10-hour meeting with 27 foreign ministers.
Lithuania’s foreign affairs minister Gabrielius Landsbergis claimed some of the Belarusian armed forces were taking orders from Russia
“Belarusian troops are receiving their commands now more and more from the Russian political decision-makers … and that means that there’s low, very low, levels of independence in the Belarusian army,” he said.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has previously said it is “clear whose side Belarus will be on” if war breaks out in the region.
Scott Morrison speaks with Ukrainian PM
Scott Morrison and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal spoke by phone this evening to discuss the developing situation, after the Prime Minister announced sanctions against Russia.
“Prime Minister Morrison reaffirmed Australia’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and denounced Russia’s aggressive behaviour towards Ukraine as unacceptable, unprovoked and unwarranted,” a spokesman said.
“The Prime Minister informed Prime Minister Shmyhal of Australia’s immediate action to sanction Russian individuals, organisations and banks as part of an international effort to impose a sharp cost on Russia for its actions against Ukraine.
“The Prime Minister affirmed Australia’s preparedness to do more, working with our partners, and in response to Ukraine’s needs.”
Australian sanctions revealed
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed there will be travel bans and financial sanctions against eight individuals linked to Russia’s national security council, with restrictions also placed on the transport, energy, telecommunications and oil gas and mineral reserves industries in the rebel regions.
He added sanctions would also be rolled out against Russian banks as part of a “first tranche” of sanctions, and said Australia’s response was designed to be “in lock-step” with the US.
The sanctions will include “travel bans and targeted financial sanctions” to “ensure we can target those … who are aiding and abetting this invasion”.
He said Russia’s acts had “no validity under international law” and that “we won’t hesitate to take further action”.
“It’s included to capture persons and entities of what is termed ‘strategic and economic significance to Russia’ and so that gives us a broad coverage to ensure that we can target those who are particularly involved in these actions and who are aiding and abetting this invasion.”
He said Australia had been stepping up its preparedness for potential cyber attacks
Mr Morrison confirmed that more than 400 Ukrainians have so far applied for temporary asylum in Australia, and that their applications would move to the “top of the pile”.
Opposition Labor Anthony Albanese offered bipartisan support for the sanctions on Russian, saying “Australians stand as one”.
All Australians stand with the people of Ukraine against Russian aggression pic.twitter.com/cElTCksuLN
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) February 23, 2022
Full-scale invasion ‘in 24 hours’: PM
Mr Morrison has confirmed that while the invasion of Ukraine had already begun, a full-scale invasion would occur within the next “24 hours”.
“The invasion of Ukraine has effectively already begun,’’ he said.
“As President Biden has also remarked, the invasion is unjustified. It’s unwarranted. It’s unprovoked. and it’s unacceptable.”
He added that while the invasion would ramp up within hours, “there are even reports already of shelling and things of that nature, which could indicate that it has already begun”.
But Mr Morrison stressed that: “Australians always stand up to bullies and we will be standing up to Russia, along with all of our partners … and all of those who believe that it’s absolutely unacceptable that Russia could invade its neighbour and seek to extract some concessions or advantage out of threats of terrible violence upon its neighbour.”
He added that “there must be consequences” for Russia’s behaviour, accusing Russian authorities of acting like “bullies and thugs”.
UK sanctions designed to ‘inflict pain’ on Russia
UK foreign secretary Liz Truss has endorsed her government’s sanctions against Russia, warning the “tepid response” is the “toughest sanctions regimen we have ever put in place” against the nation.
When asked if Russian political donors to the UK would be included in the sanctions, Mrs Truss said “nothing is off the table in terms of who we‘re targeting”.
She said the UK’s initial response was to “inflict pain” on Russia as it advances into Ukraine, warning more action will be taken if President Vladimir Putin persists.
She warned it was “highly likely” Putin will ”follow through on his plan for full-scale invasion”.
“We have not yet seen a full-scale invasion but we are very clear that if President Putin escalates, we the international community will escalate our sanctions,” she said.
‘One last chance’: Russia’s grim threat
Vladimir Putin brutally mocked his own spy chief, urging the senior official to “speak plainly” during a televised meeting on Monday.
The clash came as Mr Putin appeared to grow frustrated by Director of Foreign Intelligence Sergey Naryshkin’s failure to adequately support Russia’s move to recognise Ukraine’s pro-Russian breakaway regions.
But while much of the attention so far has been on Putin’s humiliation of Mr Naryshkin, one of his comments have revealed Russia’s grim threat to the West before an “invasion” of Ukraine.
“With the suggestion of Nikolai Platonovich, that we could give our, how to say it, Western partners, one last chance,” Mr Naryshkin said.
“Presenting them with the choice, in the shortest time frame, to force Kyiv to choose peace and implement the Minsk agreements
“In the worst case, we must make the decision that we are discussing today.”
Since I haven't found an English version online, I've added subtitles to Putin's humiliation of his spy chief during today's grotesque security council meeting in the Kremlin. pic.twitter.com/bFx25nWzTK
— Peter Liakhov (@peterliakhov) February 21, 2022
“What does it mean, ‘in the worst case’? Are you suggesting we start negotiations?” Mr Putin fired back.
“Or to recognise sovereignty?”
Mr Naryshkin stuttered as he tried to respond, prompting Mr Putin to demand he “speak, speak, speak plainly!”
“I support the proposal about the entry of the Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples’ Republics into the Russian Federation,” Mr Naryshkin replied.
“We’re not talking about that,” Mr Putin shot back. “We’re not discussing that. We’re talking about recognising their independence or not.”
“Yes,” Mr Naryshkin eventually confirmed.
“I support their proposal for independence.”
Fears for Australia after new sanctions announced
Concerns are growing that Australia could face Russian cyber attacks in response to new sanctions imposed as a result of the Ukraine crisis.
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews warned that the nation’s “critical infrastructure” could be a target.
“We are concerned about protecting Australia’s interests and we are concerned about the potential for a cyber attack on our critical infrastructure,” she said.
“Now, that doesn’t mean we are going to go lightly in our response to Russia because their behaviour needs to be called out.”
It’s expected that PM Scott Morrison will announce additional financial sanctions in a 12.45pm address following today’s National Security Committee meeting.
We’ll bring you all the updates here.
Russia’s new threat as ‘invasion’ begins
Any hopes of avoiding war in Europe are fading fast as Russia vows it won’t stop the “invasion” of Ukraine, denying the neighbouring country‘s right to exist.
The provocative warning comes amid a huge language shift among world leaders, who now confirm the situation in Ukraine is an invasion and that the threat of all-out war is rising fast.
Around 10,000 troops and tanks and equipment have already moved into the two pro-Russian rebel Ukrainian territories of Luhansk and Donetsk after Mr Putin yesterday recognised them as separate entities.
Russia’s parliament voted to allow the use of armed forces outside Russia while President Putin declared he wanted to see “demilitarisation” in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that Russia now recognised the breakaway regions in borders which existed when they declared their independence back in 2014, including parts of eastern Ukraine on the other side of the so-called “contact line” between the two nations.
Mr Putin also said Russia recognised Donetsk and Luhansk “within borders outlined in their constitutions”, while Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia did not recognise its democratic neighbour’s right to sovereignty in what has been seen as a major hint that war was looming.
Mr Lavrov justified his comments by arguing that sovereignty was only the right of nations that represented their entire populations, alleging Kyiv had failed ethnic Russians.
“Nobody can assert that the Ukrainian regimen, starting with the state coup of 2014, represents all the people who live on the territory of the Ukrainian state,” he said.
The language used by Mr Putin and Mr Lavrov have been seen as confirmation Moscow would not back down in its “invasion” of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s reservists called in
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced he has called up army reservists to assist as the situation with Russia escalates.
“There is no need for general mobilisation today. We need to promptly replenish the Ukrainian army and other military formations,” he said.
“As the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, I issued a decree on the conscription of reservists during a special period.
“We must increase the readiness of the Ukrainian army for all possible changes in the operational situation.”
Ukraine’s desperate plan to defeat Russia
Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba has revealed Ukraine’s two plans in the fight to protect its territory from Russian invasion.
“We have two plans,” Mr Kuleba said in today’s press conference.
“Plan A is to utilise every tool of diplomacy to deter Russia and prevent further escalation. “And if that fails, Plan B is to fight for every inch of our land, and every city and every village.
“Then, to fight until we win, of course.”
UN slams Russia
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has fronted the press in New York in light of the Ukraine situation, slamming Russia’s provocative decision to recognise the rebel regions.
“Let me be clear. The decision of the Russian Federation to recognise the so-called independence of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions is a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine,” he said.
Mr Guterres also lashed Russia’s claim troops were in the regions for "peacekeeping” purposes.
“When troops of one country enter the territory of another country without its consent, they are not impartial peacekeepers,” he said.
“They are not peacekeepers at all.”
World on ‘edge of the largest catastrophe since World War II’.
Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba has also held a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, slamming the “unprovoked and unjustified war on another sovereign state in Europe which Russia now intensifies”.
“We all are at a critical juncture for the security of Europe as well as international peace and security more broadly,” he said.
“Russian aggression has brought the world to the edge of the largest catastrophe since World War II.
“Yesterday, President Putin moved to recognise two pieces of Ukrainian land as independent entities.
“Ukraine does not and will never recognise this absurdity, neither will the world recognise it.”
Mr Kuleba also had some strong words for those who hesitated to describe the crisis as an invasion.
“There’s no such thing as a minor, middle or major invasion. Invasion is an invasion,” Mr Kuleba said.
Expert says Russian sanctions doomed to fail
Hugh White, a professor of strategic studies at the Australian National University, told ABC News Breakfast on Wednesday that sanctions imposed against Russia would be all but useless.
“When a country as powerful as Russia, and it does remain a powerful country militarily, decides to move to armed force, really only armed force can respond and I think the fact is that Putin is now asking the rest of the world to choose between a Ukraine which is allowed to join NATO on the one hand, what the West wants, or a Ukraine which is steadily dismantled by Putin as he increasingly puts military pressure on it,” he said.
“What I think what we have seen today is quite possibly just the first step of a broader serving of incursions in the country.
“We’re brought face-to-face, if you like, with the reality that the rules-based order we all hoped to see emerge in the world after the Cold War, really does still find itself subject to the harsh realities of power and in Ukraine, in eastern Europe, the harsh reality of power goes Putin’s way.”
Ukraine shelled 80 times in 24 hours
Ukraine’s Defence Ministry has claimed Ukrainian territories were shelled a staggering 80 times in just 24 hours from the breakaway regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.
In a statement, the ministry confirmed 58 of those incidents were from weapons which are specifically banned under the Minsk agreements – a ceasefire pact hashed out in 2014 and 2015.
However, Mr Putin has stated that the Minsk accord “no longer exists”.
At least one fatality has been recorded in Ukraine so far, as well as a handful of injuries.
She has also called for all remaining Australians in Ukraine – believed to be around 100 – to leave immediately.
Biden’s sanctions revealed
US President Joe Biden spoke earlier, describing the crisis as “the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine”.
He also announced a slew of severe new sanctions against Russia.
“We’re implementing full blocking sanctions on two large Russian financial institutions: VEB and their military bank,” he said.
“We’re implementing comprehensive sanctions on Russia’s sovereign debt. That means we’ve cut off Russia’s government from Western financing. It can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade in its new debt on our markets or European markets either.
“We’ll also impose sanctions on Russia’s elites and their family members. They share in the corrupt gains of the Kremlin policies and should share in the pain as well.
“We’ve worked with Germany to ensure that Nord Stream 2 will not … move forward.”
Mr Biden said if Moscow “continues its aggression” there could be tougher sanctions to come.
Russia has ‘now undeniably moved against Ukraine’: Biden
US President Joe Biden has condemned Vladimir Putin and announced a slew of sanctions in a fiery address this morning.
A clearly angry Mr Biden stated that Moscow had “now undeniably moved against Ukraine” after Mr Putin “bizarrely asserted that these (two breakaway) regions are no longer part of Ukraine and their sovereign territory”.
“To put it simply, Russia just announced that it is carving out a big chunk of Ukraine,” he said.
“Last night, Putin authorised Russian forces to deploy into this region, today he asserted these regions are actually extending deeper than the two areas he recognised.
“He is setting up a rationale to take more territory by force in my view … he’s setting up a rationale to go much further. This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine as he indicated.”
Mr Biden said tough sanctions would be imposed “far beyond the steps we and our allies and partners implemented in 2014”.
They will include severe economic measures, which will target Russia’s financial institutions as well as members of Mr Putin’s inner posse.
“If Russia goes further with this invasion, we stand prepared to go further with sanctions,” he said.
“Who in the Lord’s name does Putin think gives him the right to declare new so-called countries on territory that belonged to his neighbours?
“This is a flagrant violation of international law.”
Russia’s move described as an ‘invasion’
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin described Russia’s military intervention as an “invasion”.
Mr Austin said the “latest invasion” of Ukraine was “threatening the peace and security and prosperity of Ukraine, and of the transatlantic community,” and that the US would impose additional “severe economic costs as events dictate.”
Mr Biden’s deputy national security adviser Jon Finer told CNN, “an invasion is an invasion, and that is what is underway.”
“Russia has been invading Ukraine since 2014 … I am calling it an invasion.”
Originally published as Russia Ukraine news: UK promises to ‘inflict pain’ with sanctions as Vladimir Putin speaks
Join the conversation
UK rapper touring Aus charged with rape
A UK rapper and YouTuber, known as Yung Filly, was arrested on Tuesday with police alleging he sexually assaulted a woman in his Perth hotel room.
Read more
UK rapper touring Aus charged with rape
A UK rapper and YouTuber, known as Yung Filly, was arrested on Tuesday with police alleging he sexually assaulted a woman in his Perth hotel room.
Read more