Russian President Putin's declaration of "independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic" in eastern Ukraine sparks fury and condemnations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has recognised the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and paved the way to provide them military support — a direct challenge to the West that will fuel fears that Russia could imminently invade Ukraine.
Monday's announcement came amid a spike in skirmishes in the eastern regions that Western powers believe Russia could use as a pretext for an attack on the western-looking democracy that has defied Moscow's attempts to pull it back into its orbit.
Ukraine's allies and Western powers responded immediately to Monday's announcement by Putin.
NATO
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has accused Moscow of creating a pretext for a new invasion.
"Moscow continues to fuel the conflict in eastern Ukraine by providing financial and military support to the separatists. It is also trying to stage a pretext to invade Ukraine once again," Stoltenberg said.
"This undermines Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, erodes efforts towards a resolution of the conflict, and violates the Minsk Agreements, to which Russia is a party."
I condemn #Russia recognition of Donetsk/Luhansk in #Ukraine. It erodes efforts to resolve the conflict & violates Minsk agreements. #NATO supports Ukraine sovereignty & territorial integrity. We urge Moscow to stop fuelling conflict & choose diplomacy. https://t.co/H4yczPG8XM
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) February 21, 2022
European Union
Top EU top officials condemned Russia's recognition of the separatist Luhansk and Donetsk regions of eastern Ukraine, calling the move a "blatant violation of international law.
In a joint statement, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen condemned in the strongest possible terms the decision by the Russian President to proceed with the recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk of Ukraine as independent entities.
They also said that the EU will react with sanctions against those involved in this illegal act.
Michel, von der Leyen, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola also shared the same message on social media.
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, they wrote.
The EU and its partners will react with unity, firmness, and with determination in solidarity with Ukraine, the EU leaders added.
Decision to recognise so called Donetsk & Luhansk people’s republics by #Russia is a flagrant violation of the international law and Ukraine’s territorial integrity. #Latvia condemns this act of aggression and calls for strong intl response. EU must impose sanctions immediately
— Edgars Rinkēvičs (@edgarsrinkevics) February 21, 2022
Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
The European Union must impose sanctions on Russia, the governments of the Baltic states of Est onia, Latvia and Lithuania said after Russia's announcement.
The three Baltic states, unlike Ukraine, are all members of NATO and the European Union.
"The EU must impose sanctions immediately," Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics wrote on Twitter.
"I remain convinced such a course of escalation should be met with sanctions," his Lithuanian counterpart Gabrielius Landsbergis wrote in a tweet.
Official recognition of Donetsk & Luhansk ‘republics’ proves a total contempt for international law & UN charters. RU must be recognised for what it is: a state outside international rules & civilised norms. I stay convinced such course of escalation should be met with sanctions
— Gabrielius Landsbergis (@GLandsbergis) February 21, 2022
In a joint statement, Rinkevics and Latvia's president and the prime minister called on the international community "to take the strongest possible measures to stop Russia’s aggression and offer assistance to Ukraine".
Separately, Estonia's president called on the European Union to impose sanctions for what he called the "gross and unjustifiable trampling on international law".
Lithuania's speaker of parliament will table a parliamentary motion to "never recognise" any change of status of the breakaway region, she said on Monday.
"Recognition of Donetsk & Luhansk separatist 'republics' by Russia is an intolerable violation of international law.
It also means unilateral withdrawal from Minsk agreements", said Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, referring to the Donbass ceasefire documents.
United Kingdom
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson slammed Russia's recognition of separatist republics as "a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine".
He called it "a repudiation of the Minsk process and the Minsk agreements."
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Putin's move "signals an end to the Minsk process and is a violation of the United Nations Charter.
"We will not allow Russia's violation of its international commitments to go unpunished," Truss tweeted.
My statement condemning Russia’s recognition of the ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ and ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’ as independent states 👇 pic.twitter.com/e0y3LNu29X
— Liz Truss (@trussliz) February 21, 2022
United States
President Joe Biden has ordered new sanctions against the separatist eastern Ukraine regions.
The Biden administration called announcement by Putin a "blatant violation of Russia's international commitments."
The sanctions will prohibit new investment, trade and financing in the two separatist regions of Ukraine recognised by Putin.
Germany
Russia is reneging on its engagements to the global community, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said.
Underlining that Russia had itself signed up to the Minsk peace agreements in 2014, Baerbock said that "with its decision, Russia is breaking all its promises to the world community".
Die Anerkennung der separatistischen „Volksrepubliken" in der Ostukraine durch Präsident Putin macht jahrelange Bemühungen im Normandie-Format & der OSZE willentlich zunichte. Wir werden auf diesen Völkerrechtsbruch reagieren & stimmen uns mit Partnern ab. https://t.co/8uyLpb9WGF
— Außenministerin Annalena Baerbock (@ABaerbock) February 21, 2022
France
French President Emmanuel Macron called Russia's decision an attack on Ukraine's territorial integrity and called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
Macron also called for targeted European sanctions.
En reconnaissant les régions séparatistes de l'est de l'Ukraine, la Russie viole ses engagements et porte atteinte à la souveraineté de l'Ukraine. Je condamne cette décision. J’ai demandé une réunion d'urgence du Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies et des sanctions européennes.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 21, 2022
United Nations
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres slammed Russia's move as a "violation" of Kiev's sovereignty.
"The Secretary General considers the decision of the Russian Federation to be a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations," he said in a statement.
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