Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday evening recognized the independence of the pro-Russian separatist regions of eastern Ukraine. Here are the main reactions to this major new step in the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian crisis.
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UN
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres denounces “a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine”, “incompatible with the principles of the United Nations Charter”.
EUROPEAN UNION
The EU calls the recognition of the separatist regions a “flagrant violation of international law as well as the Minsk agreements” and will sanction “those involved in this illegal act”, according to the President of the European Council Charles Michel and the President of the Commission Ursula Von der Leyen.
The EU will decide on the first sanctions against Russia on Tuesday, according to the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrel.
NATO
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemns the decision: “The Allies urge Russia, in the strongest terms, to choose the path of diplomacy, to immediately abandon its massive military build-up in Ukraine and around Ukraine, and to withdraw its forces in accordance with its international obligations and commitments”.
OSCE
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is organizing an extraordinary meeting and calling on Moscow to “immediately cancel this decision” which “constitutes a violation of international law and the fundamental principles of the OSCE”.
UNITED STATES
The Russian move contradicts “Russia’s commitment to diplomacy” and deserves a “strong” and “swift” response, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
FRANCE
President Emmanuel Macron condemns Vladimir Putin’s decision and calls for “targeted European sanctions” against Moscow.
ITALY
Prime Minister Mario Draghi expresses his “strongest condemnation” of the Russian decision, “an unacceptable violation of the democratic sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine”.
GERMANY
For the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, Vladimir Putin “denies all his commitments” vis-à-vis the international community. “We expressly warn against any further military escalation by Russia.”
POLAND
For Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, the decision “equivalent to a rejection of dialogue and a flagrant violation of international law”. He calls for an emergency meeting of the European Council.
BALTIC COUNTRIES
For Lithuania, Moscow’s decision “proves a total disregard for international law and the UN charters”, according to Gabrielius Landsbergis, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. “I remain convinced that such an escalation must be sanctioned”.
In Latvia, the government denounces “a gross violation of international law” which will have a long-term impact on the overall security situation in Europe. He calls on the international community “to take the strongest possible measures” with “strong economic sanctions” against Russia and calls for “appropriate action by NATO”.
In Estonia, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas calls for “strong sanctions” against this “serious attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine” and wants to discuss it with European leaders.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Prime Minister Petr Fiala accuses Russia of “an act of aggression towards a neighboring sovereign state” and supports “a joint reaction by the EU and partners”, referring on Twitter to the crushing of the Prague Spring in 1968: “our own history reminds us that such measures against neighboring sovereign states never lead to peace”.
UK
Prime Minister Boris Johnson denounces “a flagrant violation of the sovereignty” of Ukraine and a “repudiation” of the Minsk peace agreements. He announces “a first series” of economic sanctions which will “hit Russia very hard”.
CHINA
Beijing does not explicitly condemn Russia and calls on the actors of the Ukrainian crisis to “show restraint and avoid any action likely to fuel tensions”.
JAPAN
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida “strongly” condemns Russian actions and says they violate Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity: “If an invasion occurs, we will coordinate a strong response, including sanctions, in consultation with the G7 and the international community”.
AUSTRALIA
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is in favor of adopting “strong and severe sanctions against Russia”.
TURKEY
Moscow’s decision is “unacceptable”, said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, “we call on the parties concerned to exercise common sense and to comply with international law”.
IRAN
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on Moscow and Kiev to “restraint”, saying that “unfortunately the provocative interventions and actions of NATO and mainly the United States have complicated the situation in the region”.
SYRIA
Damascus “supports” the Russian decision and “will cooperate” with the republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, according to Foreign Minister Fayçal al-Meqdad quoted by the official SANA agency. “What the West is doing now against Russia is similar to what it did against Syria during the terrorist war.”