Tokyo, 22 February, /AJMEDIA/
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized the independence of two pro-Moscow separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and ordered troops to be deployed there for “peacekeeping” missions, a move that could pave the way for Russia to invade its neighbor.
The United States immediately condemned Putin’s move as a “clear attack on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” and announced a trade and investment ban on the two regions.
The measures were separate from the “swift and severe economic measures” that the United States has been preparing in coordination with its allies and partners should Russia invade the former Soviet republic, officials of the U.S. administration of President Joe Biden said.
“We will observe and assess what actions Russia actually takes and respond accordingly,” one of the officials told reporters in response to a question regarding when the planned “severe” sanctions would be triggered. He did not clearly define what would constitute an “invasion.”
The latest development came after a monthslong Russian military buildup near Ukraine and despite a flurry of diplomatic efforts by Western countries that have been seeking a de-escalation.
In televised remarks after a meeting of Russia’s security council, Putin called Ukraine “an integral part” of Russia’s history and reiterated his criticism that Western countries have “ignored” Russia’s key demands to offer security guarantees to halt NATO’s eastward expansion and preclude the possibility of Ukraine’s membership of the 30-country military alliance.
“I deem it necessary to make a decision that should have been made a long time ago — to immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic,” Putin said.
The two self-proclaimed republics of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, collectively known as the Donbas, are home to Russia-backed separatists who have been fighting Ukrainian forces following Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
Earlier Monday, the separatist leaders called on Putin to recognize their republics’ sovereignty. Putin also signed so-called friendship and mutual aid agreements with the entities he recognized as independent.
With more than 150,000 Russian troops massed along Ukraine’s borders, pundits fear that Russia may find an excuse for military action amid a deteriorating security situation in the Donbas region on the grounds that it needs to protect people there against Ukraine.
On Sunday, the White House said that Biden had agreed in principle to hold a summit with Putin, provided Moscow did not take military action.
But the Biden administration official said Monday the U.S. government “cannot commit” to the meeting, with Russia “continuing to prepare for military action that could take place in the coming hours or days.”
The United States has sent troops to Europe to bolster the security of North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies and has been providing security assistance to Ukraine to help defend its territory.
But it has denied any intention to deploy U.S. forces in Ukraine, which is not a member of NATO although it aspires to join the alliance.
