Ukraine crisis: ‘Pretext for war’: UN condemns Vladimir Putin

UN Security Council denounces Putin’s recognition of rebel-held areas in Ukraine and his deployment of troops as a gross violation of international law.

Russian President Vladimir Putin during his address to the nation at the Kremlin in Moscow on Tuesday.

The United States and its allies have rounded on Russia during an emergency Security Council session, denouncing Vladimir Putin’s recognition of rebel-held areas in Ukraine and his ordered deployment of troops as a gross violation of international law and “pretext for war.” Addressing the session, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield heaped scorn on Putin’s assertion that the Russian troops would take on a peacekeeping role in the Donetsk and Lugansk areas.

“He calls them peacekeepers. This is nonsense. We know what they really are,” Thomas-Greenfield said.

Ukraine’s ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya insisted that his country’s borders remain “unchangeable” despite Russia’s actions.

Moscow is still “open to diplomacy for a diplomatic solution,” said Russia’s ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya.

“However, allowing a new bloodbath in the Donbass is something we do not intend to do,” he added, referring to the region encompassing Donetsk and Lugansk.

“Instead of forcing Kyiv to implement its obligations, they have merely been openly egging Ukraine on... while for the last few weeks...whipping up unfounded panic around the allegedly impending invasion of Ukraine,” he said.“Our Western colleagues have been unashamedly cramming weapons into the country, sending instructors there, essentially nudging the Ukrainians...towards an unprovoked provocation.”

‘We won’t cede anything’ says defiant Ukraine president

The Ukrainian President has accused Vladimir Putin of withdrawing from the Minsk Agreement by ordering troops into Ukraine.

“We are not afraid. We won’t cede anything,” Volodymyr Zelensky said in a defiant address to Ukrainians.

“We are committed to peace and diplomacy. We are on our land, we are not afraid of anyone or anything, and we will not give anything to anyone, and we are sure of that,” Mr Zelensky said.

“It’s not February 2014, but February 2022,” he said in a reference to Ukraine’s weak army eight years ago when Russia took Crimea.

However Mr Zelensky continued to urge calm, saying in the late night address: “Truth is on our side. We will never hide the truth from you. As soon as we see a change in the situation, as soon as we see an increase in risk, you will know all about it. There is currently no reason for chaotic actions.”

The Minsk Protocol, signed by Ukraine and Russia, was put in place in 2015 to end fighting in the Donbas region.

UN Security Council holds emergency meeting ... chaired by Russia

Britain, the US and France have condemned Russia’s deployment of ‘peacekeepers' into East Ukraine at a UN Security Council meeting.

At the emergency meeting on the Ukraine crisis - which is being chaired by Russia - US ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield called it “nonsense” that Vladimir Putin claimed his troops ordered to eastern Ukraine would be peacekeepers.“We know what they really are,” said the US envoy. Her remarks followed those of Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for peacebuilding, who voiced “regret” that Russian troops were deployed into the two eastern separatist regions.

Earlier, US secretary of state Antony Blinken warned there was a strong likelihood any Russian military operations would disrupt commercial flights.

“Russian troops have continued to move closer to the border in what looks like plans for an invasion at any moment,” said Mr Blinken.

Invasion ‘possible within hours’: Johnson

Boris Johnson has told his Ukrainian counterpart Russian invasion was possible “within hours,” and the UK had already drawn up sanctions against Moscow.

The British Prime Minister also told Volodymyr Zelenskiy Britain would consider sending further defensive support to Uktraine.

“Outlining his grave concern at recent developments in the region, the Prime Minister told President Zelenskiy that he believed an invasion was a real possibility in the coming hours and days,” Mr Johnson’s office said following a call between the leaders.

“He told President Zelenskiy that the UK had already drawn up sanctions to target those complicit in the violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and that those measures would come into force tomorrow. The Prime Minister also said he would explore sending further defensive support to Ukraine, at the request of the Ukrainian Government.”

Putin orders tanks, troops in eastern Ukraine

Vladimir Putin has ordered Russia’s military into Ukraine’s two breakaway regions to act as “peacekeepers” just hours after he recognised them as independent.

In two official decrees, the Russian president instructed the defence ministry to assume “the function of peacekeeping” in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions.,.

Moscow provided no details or date for any deployment, with the order saying only that it “comes into force from the day it was signed”.

Unsubstantiated videos circulating on social media appeared to show Russian troops entering Donetsk.

First unit of the #Russian army enters #Donetsk and #Lugansk - reports pic.twitter.com/hz8GvV5GPn

— Barzan Sadiq (@BarzanSadiq) February 21, 2022

Earlier on Tuesday (AEDT) Mr Putin announced that he would recognise the rebel regions in

a move that threatened to scuttle diplomatic negotiations with the West and could be used to justify an incursion into the territories.

“The situation in Donbas is becoming critical,” Mr. Putin said in a live televised address before launching into a lengthy examination of the relationship between the two countries and the Donbas region, where the two breakaway regions are located. “Ukraine is not just a neighbour. It is an inherent part of our own history, culture and spiritual space,” he said.

“I believe it is necessary to take a long overdue decision, to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council in Moscow.

In the same document, Mr Putin also ordered his foreign ministry to “establish diplomatic relations” with the “republics”.

Earlier on Monday, the Russian leader demanded that Kyiv halt all its military operations against pro-Moscow rebels in eastern Ukraine, or face more bloodshed.

Mr Putin’s move came despite Western countries repeatedly warning him not to and threatening Moscow with sanctions.

Mr. Putin said the Russian government would draft and sign the documents recognising the independence of the two breakaway states in the near future, and said Russia would sign mutual assistance treaties with them.

Before the address, Mr. Putin called French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and told them of his decision, the Kremlin said in a statement. The European leaders condemned the move as a “clear breach” of the Minsk peace agreements. French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden agreed that “this step will not go unanswered”, the chancellery said in a statement published following their talks.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “This is plainly in breach of international law, it’s a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine.

“I think it’s a very ill omen and a very dark sign.”

Mr Biden went on to announce sanctions on the two rebel regions, banning Americans from any new investment, trade or financing.

The decision to recognise the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk came as Kyiv asked the United Nations Security Council for an urgent meeting to tackle the threat of a Russian invasion.

Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said he made the request Monday after a substantial escalation in military activity between Russian-backed forces and Kyiv government troops.

Russia has in recent months moved tens of thousands of soldiers to regions near Ukraine’s borders, with the West saying Moscow plans to use them for an attack at any moment.

Putin’s recognition of the separatist republics as independent effectively buries a fragile peace agreement regulating the conflict in eastern Ukraine and opens the door for Russian military activities in the country.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has proposed a meeting with Sergei Lavrov, his Russian counterpart, this week in Europe that could lead to a summit between Messrs. Biden and Putin. On Sunday, in a move brokered in part by Mr. Macron, Mr. Biden agreed in principle to meet the Kremlin leader, provided that Russia pulls back from a potential attack on Ukraine.

On Monday, Mr. Putin appeared to make the case for invading Russia’s smaller neighbour, describing Ukraine as a tool being used by the West for confrontation with Russia that “poses a very large threat” to the country, he said.

Mr. Putin also accused Ukraine of taking a hostile stance toward Russian-controlled areas of Donbas and said the government in Kyiv wasn’t willing to implement the Minsk ceasefire agreement signed after Ukrainian forces were routed in Donbas in 2015. Ukraine has rejected Moscow’s interpretation of the deal, which it says provides Russia’s proxies in the region a veto over any attempt to align Ukraine more closely with the West.

The Russian leader also repeated his objections to Ukraine being allowed to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, saying that Kyiv would use it as an opportunity to forcibly try to retake the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014.

“If Russia faces such a threat as the admission of Ukraine to NATO, then the threats to our country will increase,” he said.

If Moscow openly enters the fighting in Donbas, its overwhelming advantage in aviation and missiles could allow its forces to punch through Ukrainian defences and potentially encircle some of the Ukrainian army’s best fighting units.

“Military assistance is needed, in different directions,” Eduard Basurin, one of the leaders of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, said on Russian TV on Monday.

The U.S. has told the U.N. that it has reliable information that the Kremlin plans to hunt down Ukrainians who oppose a Russian attack if Mr. Putin decides to invade the country.

“We have credible information that indicates Russian forces are creating lists of identified Ukrainians to be killed or sent to camps following a military occupation,” Bathsheba Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. office and other international organisations in Geneva wrote a top U.N. human rights official. “Russian forces will likely use lethal measures to disperse peaceful protests or otherwise counter peaceful exercises of perceived resistance from civilian populations.”

AFP, DJ