‘Russia should step back’: Scott Morrison rubbishes Putin’s claim

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has rubbished suggestions Russia is sending in “peacekeeping” troops to eastern Ukraine, saying Moscow has “moved in on Ukrainian sovereign territory”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his defence ministry to despatch Russian troops to “maintain peace” in eastern Ukraine’s two breakaway regions, in a significant escalation of the Kremlin-driven crisis over Ukraine.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned of potentially terrible consequences if Russia invades Ukraine. Credit: Sydney Morning Herald

Mr Morrison on Tuesday warned the move could result in an “absolutely violent confrontation with terrible human consequences”.

He said Ukraine had seen “Russian troops enter their own sovereign territory – that has already occurred now”.

“Some suggestion that they’re peacekeeping is nonsense. They have moved in on Ukrainian sovereign territory. And I hope for the best in terms of the diplomatic efforts that are being pursued,” he told reporters in Tasmania.

“We cannot have threats of violence being used to seek to advantage nations’ positions over others – that is not a peaceful world order. I can assure that the moment that other countries put in place strong and severe sanctions on Russia, we will be in lock step with them.”

Asked about former prime minister Tony Abbott’s warning that Russia would look to take Poland and the Baltic states after invading Ukraine, Mr Morrison said he was “aware of Tony’s comments”.

“But right now we’re pretty much focused on the immediate issues in Ukraine and to ensure that Russia steps back,” he said.

“Russia should step back, it should unconditionally withdraw back behind its own borders and stop threatening its neighbours.”

The Kremlin decree, spelled out in an order signed by Mr Putin, left unclear when, or even whether, troops would enter Ukraine.

It brought swift promises of new sanctions from the US and other Western nations and underscored the steep challenges they face in staving off a military conflict they have portrayed as near-inevitable.

The Kremlin’s announcement came just hours after Putin recognised the independence of the eastern separatist regions Donetsk and Luhansk, paving the way to provide them military support and antagonising Western leaders who regard such a move as an unjust breach of world order.

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