(Moscow) The green light Tuesday from the Russian Parliament for a military operation in Ukraine is “the start of an invasion” of the country, denounced US President Joe Biden, unveiling the first sanctions against Moscow, like its Western partners.
Posted at 2:42 p.m.
Updated at 5:42 p.m.
The fear of a military escalation in Ukraine, at the gates of which 150,000 Russian soldiers have, according to Washington, been deployed, has been at its peak since Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized the independence of the secessionist entities of Lugansk and Donetsk.
The Russian president is “developing justifications to go much further,” said Joe Biden, 24 hours after his counterpart’s major decision. “There is still time to avoid the worst,” he added, however.
In Moscow, Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov read before the Senate a request from the Russian President to deploy troops to the entities of Donetsk and Lugansk, on the grounds that a “(Ukrainian) army of 60,000 men and heavy armor” would be ready to attack.
Just after receiving the agreement of elected officials, Mr. Putin once again denounced the abuses that Kiev is committing according to him against the separatists of Donbass.
He cast doubt on the timetable for sending armed forces, calling for a “demilitarization” of Ukraine, which would “better” to give up his ambition to join NATO to choose “neutrality”.
“I didn’t say that our soldiers are going to go there now […] It will depend, as they say, on the situation on the ground,” he said. Immediately afterwards, Russian diplomacy announced the forthcoming evacuation of its diplomats from Ukraine.
Mr. Putin also claimed for the separatists all of the administrative regions of Lugansk and Donetsk, the area of which greatly exceeds that of the territories under their control. He mentioned hypothetical “negotiations” between Kiev and pro-Russian forces.
The Russian intervention would be legally justified by the ratification Tuesday of mutual aid agreements, in particular at the military level. And Moscow has also established diplomatic relations with the two regions.
First penalties
NATO expects “a massive attack” from Russia in Ukraine, announced in this context its Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg.
Without waiting, the West took the first sanctions in response to the recognition of the separatists that Kiev has been fighting for eight years, a conflict that has killed more than 14,000 people.
The most dramatic measure was announced by Berlin, which froze the gigantic Nord Stream II gas pipeline project, which was to bring even more Russian gas to Germany.
At the White House, Biden announced a “first tranche” of sanctions aimed at preventing Moscow from raising Western funds to repay its sovereign debt.
The entire Russian banking sector could be targeted by sanctions if Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, a US official has said.
The head of American diplomacy Antony Blinken for his part announced that he would not meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov as planned.
“Now that we see the invasion has started and Russia has clearly rejected any diplomacy, it makes no sense to meet at this stage,” Blinken said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a “series of economic sanctions” against Russia “until the territorial integrity of Ukraine is restored”.
In particular, Canada will “prohibit Canadians from carrying out any foreign transactions” with the pro-Russian separatist territories of Lugansk and Donetsk, impose sanctions on Russian parliamentarians who voted in favor of the “illegal decision to recognize these territories” and “prohibit Canadians to participate in purchases of Russian debt,” he said.
The EU has adopted a package of sanctions that “will hurt Russia a lot”, assured the head of its diplomacy, Josep Borrell.
And British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced sanctions targeting three oligarchs close to the Kremlin and five Russian banks, minimum measures for London, the financial stronghold of the great Russian fortunes.
He also said he was opposed to international matches in Russia, such as the Champions League football final scheduled for the end of May in Saint Petersburg.
These measures remain for the moment modest compared to those promised in the event of a major invasion.
For the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, the principles of “the United Nations Charter are not an à la carte menu” and Russia must “apply them all” with regard to Ukraine.
He reaffirmed that Moscow’s recognition of a “so-called independence” of separatist areas was “a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country on Tuesday demanded “weapons” and guarantees on its membership of the EU, said he was considering a break in diplomatic relations with Moscow.
” Not afraid ”
The Russian president, who has dictated the tempo from the start, maintains the mystery of his intentions and has several options before him: invade all of Ukraine, expand the area under the control of the separatists or wrest a new negotiated status quo.
Because an occupation could be expensive in a hostile country, and Russia wants to obtain from NATO its retreat in Eastern Europe and the end of its enlargement policy. Requirements rejected so far.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov for his part warned on Tuesday that “difficult trials” and losses awaited Ukraine.
During the night, President Zelensky for his part assured that the Ukrainians were “not afraid of anything or anyone” and would not cede “a single piece of the country”.
On the front line, shootings were still taking place with the separatists.
Kiev denies any offensive action, contrary to Moscow’s claims, accusing its opponents of spreading false information aimed at trying to justify an intervention.