Russia recognizes independence of Ukrainian separatist regions; tanks enter Donetsk
On Monday evening, March 18, Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing the independence of the two separatist regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, which are under the control of rebels in eastern Ukraine.
The Russian president also signed a "friendship and cooperation" agreement with separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Putin said NATO had completely ignored Russia's security demands and accused the West of trying to ignore Russia's security concerns.
He claimed that he was forced to make a decision that should have been made long ago: to immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of the "People's Republic" of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Russian state television simultaneously broadcast images of Ukrainian separatist leaders present at the venue of Vladimir Putin's speech.
The Russian president also ordered the country's Defense Ministry to send what he claimed were "peacekeeping" forces to Russia's separatist regions.
Hours later, Reuters news agency reported, citing eyewitnesses, that columns of military vehicles, including tanks, entered the city of Donetsk.
The report says that five tanks have been seen on the outskirts of the city and two tanks have been seen inside Donetsk city.
The Russian President had previously convened a meeting of the Presidential Security Council to consider recognizing the independence of these regions.
This action comes at a time when Western countries are concerned that Russia may use the escalation of military conflicts in these areas as an excuse to attack Ukrainian territory.
At a meeting of the Presidential Security Council, it was stated that now is the time for Russia to recognize the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
“I have heard your views,” Vladimir Putin said after the 90-minute meeting, which was broadcast on state television. “Today, a decision will be made on this matter,” he said, eventually signing a decree recognizing the regions’ independence.
Mr. Putin had previously informed the leaders of Germany and France of his decision.
Europe and America condemned; sanctions are on the way
Russia's move to recognize Ukraine's separatist regions was met with strong condemnation from Western leaders, who stressed that they would impose sanctions against Moscow.
The White House announced that US President Joe Biden condemned Moscow's action in a phone call with world leaders.
The White House statement said that in a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden “strongly condemned Russian President Putin’s decision to seemingly recognize the ‘independence’ of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic.”
Another White House statement also states that Mr. Biden spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about their coordinated response to Russia's action.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel also said in a joint statement that Russia's action was a "flagrant violation of international law."
The statement added that the EU "responds by imposing sanctions" and "reiterates its full support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders."
The Polish Prime Minister also called for sanctions against Russia.
Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), also condemned Moscow's action, saying that Moscow was pouring gasoline on the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also called Russia's action "a clear violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and integrity" and strongly condemned it.
He said this was a clear violation of the Minsk agreements and the UN Charter and that Britain would stand with the Ukrainian people with a "strong package of sanctions".
Mr Johnson added: "Putin's move could fuel a potentially devastating conflict between Russia and Ukraine."
The British government announced on Monday evening that it will announce its sanctions against Russia tomorrow.
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss also tweeted: "We will not allow Russia's violation of its international obligations to go unpunished."
The Elysee Palace also issued a statement in which Emmanuel Macron condemned Russia's action, calling it a "unilateral violation of Russia's international obligations" and an attack on Ukraine's territorial integrity.
The French president called for an emergency meeting of the Security Council and the establishment of "targeted European sanctions" against Russia.
The White House also announced that Joe Biden is going to impose new sanctions against Russia.
The Biden administration on Monday called Putin's move to recognize the independence of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions a "flagrant violation of Russia's international obligations."
The US president is set to sign an executive order banning new investment, trade and financing in the separatist regions of eastern Ukraine.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also called Russia's recognition of the independence of two Ukrainian regions a "flagrant violation of international law" and said Berlin would react to this decision.
He stated that Germany is consulting with its partners on how to react to Vladimir Putin's decision.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also called Russia's decision a "violation" of Ukraine's sovereignty.
Meanwhile, the Dutch Prime Minister announced that EU countries have agreed to impose a limited set of sanctions against Russia.
"We agreed on a limited package of sanctions, which specifically targets those responsible for this decision," Mark Rutte told Dutch television on Monday.
These sanctions are scheduled to be announced on Tuesday.
European Union warning
Hours before Russia's action, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz strongly condemned Vladimir Putin's statements about the possibility of recognizing the independence of Ukraine's separatist regions.
The German chancellor's office said in a statement that Mr. Schulz warned the Russian leader in a telephone conversation that such a decision would be a "unilateral violation of the Minsk agreements" signed to end the separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine in 2014.
Mr Schulz also called on Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine's borders, saying he was in talks with Ukrainian and French leaders on the matter.
On the other hand, the European Union's foreign policy chief warned that recognizing the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk would lead to sanctions against Russia.
Josep Borrell had announced that we call on Russia to abide by international law.
He had said that Moscow's recognition of the independence of the separatist regions of Ukraine or the annexation of these regions to Russian territory was a good reason to impose some of the sanctions planned against the country, and that the European Union would respond to Russia in a unified manner.
France's National Security Council also held an emergency meeting on Monday about Russia's plan to recognize the independence of Ukraine's separatist regions.
The French President had previously spoken by phone with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts.
On February 16, the Russian parliament, the Duma, approved by a majority vote a bill recognizing the "independent republics" of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine and sent it to the Kremlin for implementation.
Before the Russian president's remarks, separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine had called on Mr. Putin in a televised statement to recognize the independence of these regions and sign military treaties with them as a "sign of friendship to defend this territory against attacks by the Ukrainian army."
The Ukrainian government has denied a military attack on these areas and has accused Russia of provocative actions, as shelling on the front lines intensifies.
Putin's speech against Ukraine
Before signing a decree recognizing the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, the Russian president accused Western countries of helping the Ukrainian government carry out “criminal operations” in a televised speech and said Ukraine was caught in the grip of “oligarchic groups.” He claimed that Ukraine had fallen into a US “colony” with a “puppet regime.”
Putin added that a "flood of Western weapons" has been sent to Ukraine in recent months. According to the Russian president, "Ukraine could threaten Russia by acquiring nuclear weapons."
He claimed that all of this was a cover for the rapid deployment of NATO forces in Ukraine; "American drones are also constantly using Ukrainian soil to spy on Russia."
Putin added: "The United States and NATO have shamelessly turned Ukraine into a scene of potential military action against Russia."
The Russian president says: "If Ukraine becomes a member of NATO, it will be a direct threat to Russia."
He made a dig at history in his remarks, saying that “modern Ukraine was entirely built by Russia, or rather by the Russian communist Bolsheviks. This process began immediately after the 1917 revolution, and as a result, Bolshevik Ukraine emerged, the architect of which can even today be logically considered to be Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.”
Russia's initial opposition
The Kremlin initially opposed the rebels' demand for independence for the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Russia's policy under the 2015 peace plan was to grant self-rule to rebel-held areas within a federal system of government for all of Ukraine.
In recent days, as military clashes on the front lines between rebels and Ukrainian government forces intensified, the presidents of the United States and Russia agreed in principle to hold a summit aimed at preventing a military attack on Ukraine.
The US government has announced that the summit will be canceled if Russia invades Ukraine. However, the possibility of a direct meeting between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin has raised some hopes that diplomacy will succeed and prevent a devastating war and severe economic losses for Europe.
Western governments estimate that Russia has deployed between 160,000 and 190,000 troops near Ukraine's borders. Western leaders have warned that Vladimir Putin is now looking for a pretext to invade Ukraine militarily.
In addition to the escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, Russia announced that it had thwarted a Ukrainian infiltration operation. At the same time, Moscow announced that Russian military exercises on Belarusian territory had been extended.
As the risk of war increases, French President Emmanuel Macron was able to encourage the presidents of Russia and the United States to attend a bilateral summit on Sunday.
The French presidential office announced that the leaders of the United States and Russia have agreed in principle to hold the summit, and that a broader meeting will be held afterwards with the participation of all interested parties to review the security and strategic stability of Europe.
The tone of Washington and Moscow towards this proposal was cautious, but neither side denied the possibility of holding the summit.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Washington has always been in favor of negotiations aimed at preventing war, but at the same time is prepared to respond to any attack.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said on Monday that the Russian and American leaders could meet if possible, but it was still premature to comment on the planning of the summit.
The French presidential office said the Russian and American foreign ministers will prepare for this possible summit during their meeting on Tuesday.
Despite the escalation of diplomatic efforts, there are signs that these measures may not be able to prevent the outbreak of war.
On the one hand, Russia has extended the duration of its military exercises in Belarus. According to military experts, one of the main centers of Russian forces' concentration in Belarus is about 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.
Meanwhile, artillery and heavy weapons exchanges continue between Russian-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces in the east of the country, with each side accusing the other of violating the ceasefire.
Source: Radio Farda
