Newsquawk

RECAP OF LATEST RUSSIA-UKRAINE HEADLINES:

Russian President Putin said Russia will recognize the independence of Donbas LPR and DPR separatists as soon as possible and immediately, while he asked Parliament to support the decision and signed an agreement on cooperation and friendship with Russia-backed breakaway regions. Furthermore, Russian President Putin ordered a peacekeeping operation in eastern Ukraine's two breakaway regions and an FT reporter also tweeted that Russian President Putin ordered Russian troops into Ukraine.

Russian President Putin said Ukraine is an integral part of Russian history and they are ready to show Ukraine what genuine de-communisation looks like, while he accused Ukraine of stealing Russian gas in the past and using energy to blackmail Russia. Putin stated that Ukraine is managed by foreign powers which affects all levels of authority and that Ukraine is a US colony with a puppet regime, while he added that Ukraine plans to create its own nuclear weapons and if Ukraine gets weapons of mass destruction, the global situation will change drastically which they cannot ignore and that nuclear weapons amount to preparation for an attack on Russia.

Russian President Putin said any grounds for sanctions will be found or fabricated and thinks the West will impose sanctions anyway, while he added that Russia has the right to take retaliatory measures and has every right to protect its security which is what they will do.

US President Biden is to sign an executive order prohibiting new investment, trade and financing to the DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine in which the executive order will provide authority to impose sanctions on any person operating in those areas of Ukraine, while he will soon announce additional measures which would be separate and in addition to the swift and severe economic measure it has been preparing. Furthermore, the White House said it has anticipated a move like this and is ready to respond, while it was separately reported that the Pentagon expects Russia to move into Ukraine tonight and on to those just recognised independent states, according to Fox.

US Secretary of State Blinken said recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics as independent requires a swift and firm response, while he added that they will take appropriate steps in coordination with partners.

UK Foreign Minister Truss said they will be announcing new sanctions on Russia tomorrow in response to the breach of international law and attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Truss said she spoke to EU's Borrell and they agreed the UK and EU will work together to deliver swift sanctions against Russian President Putin's regime, while it was separately reported that the UK will announce Russia sanctions on Tuesday and the UK government said sanctions will go further if invasion happens, so will not go as far as the full package prepared, according to The Guardian.

Dutch PM Rutte said a limited package of EU sanctions agreed against Russia and that the sanctions will target those responsible for move to recognise independence of Ukraine rebel regions.

French President Macron condemned Russia's decision to recognise independence of breakaway Ukraine regions and calls for emergency UN Security Council meeting and adoption of targeted European sanctions.

Latvian Foreign Minister said EU must immediately impose sanctions on Russia after it recognised separatist regions and Latvia will deliver two Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine on Tuesday.

Poland Prime Minister said Russia's decision is an act of aggression on Ukraine and sanctions should be imposed immediately.

EU heads said they will react to Russia's recognition of Ukraine separatists with 'firmness', while EU's Von Der Leyen said the recognition of the two separatist territories in Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the Minsk agreements.

Consultations are going on at the top level of the EU institutions, while there will be consultations with US and UK on whether tonight should be trigger point for sanctions, according to WSJ.

EU sanctioned five members of Russia's parliament who were elected to represent annexed Crimea region and EU's Borrell earlier said if there is a recognition by Russian President Putin, they will put the sanctions on the table for ministers to decide. However, an EU diplomat said Borrell was "free-lancing" when he said that he would table the Russia sanctions package on the back of a Kremlin recognition and what he said didn't reflect the discussion in the room, according to WSJ.

NATO SecGen Stoltenberg said Moscow continues to fuel conflict in Eastern Ukraine and that Moscow is creating a pre-text to try and invade Ukraine again.

Russia Foreign Minister Lavrov said the West is not willing to discuss Russian security demands and said diplomatic efforts with the US should continue, while he noted some progress in talks with the West and confirmed plans to meet US Secretary of State Blinken on Feb. 24th in Geneva.

Russian military officials said Russian troops and border guards prevented Ukrainian saboteurs from breaching Ukraine/Russia border, although the Ukraine Military responded to Russian claims of failed border raids in which it said it is fake news and that its forces are not in Russia's Rostov region.

Russia's Kremlin said there were no concrete plans yet for a meeting between US President Biden and Russian President Putin and that tensions are growing over Ukraine. Furthermore, reports noted that US President Biden had asked French President Macron to make an offer of a Biden-Putin summit to Russian President Putin, according to a French Presidency official.

Ukraine Foreign Minister said everyone needs to focus on de-escalation efforts and that there is no other way, while they will meet US Secretary of State Blinken on Tuesday to discuss.

Heavy gunfire was heard on the streets of Luhansk where artillery shells were also exploding from time to time, while a DPR official said Horlivka and Dokuchayevsk in Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) have come under fire, according to Interfax. It was also reported that Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) declared a state of emergency in relation to the cessation of a centralised drinking water supply and Donetsk People's militia said Ukrainian forces have begun implementing the Donbass invasion plan, according to Sputnik.

21 Feb 2022 - 21:40- EnergyGeopolitical- Source: Newswires