Russia approves use of armed forces abroad – and plans to evacuate diplomatic staff from Kyiv
KUMASI, 22nd February, (Futball Surgery)– Russian legislators have given President Vladimir Putin permission to use armed forces abroad.
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The decision by the Russian upper house of parliament could presage a broader attack on Ukraine.
Russian legislators have given President Vladimir Putin permission to use armed forces abroad.
The decision by the upper house of parliament takes immediate effect – and it could presage a broader attack on Ukraine.
It comes as Russia said it was evacuating its diplomatic personnel from Ukraine because they had received threats.
On Monday, Moscow recognised the independence of Russian-backed rebel regions in eastern Ukraine.
Some Western leaders have said Russian troops had moved into Ukraine’s east – and the US called it an “invasion”.
- UK targets five Russian banks and three oligarchs with sanctions
- EU sanctions Russian MPs who voted in favour of recognition
- White House refers to Russian troop deployments as an ‘invasion’
- Ukrainian president considering breaking off diplomatic ties with Russia
- Germany halts approval of Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline
Russia planning ‘full-scale’ attack, NATO says
In Brussels, NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said Russia is planning for a “full-scale” attack on its neighbour.
“Every indication is that Russia is continuing to plan for a full-scale attack of Ukraine,” he told a news conference.
However, it was unclear how large the Russian troop movements were. Ukraine and its allies have long said Russian troops are already fighting in the region, though Moscow denies those allegations.
Moscow claims deployment is a ‘peacekeeping’ mission
The upper house’s decision allows Mr Putin to deploy Russian military forces to the two separatist-held regions in eastern Ukraine in what Moscow has called a “peacekeeping” mission.
“By approving the use of the armed forces abroad, we assume they will be peacekeeping forces – forces designed to maintain peace and stability in the (self-proclaimed east Ukrainian) republics,” Valentina Matvienko, the upper house’s speaker, said before the vote.
Are Russian troops moving into Donbas?
Russia has announced its intention to send troops into eastern Ukraine on what President Putin called a “peacekeeping” mission.
Yet there’s little evidence to suggest large numbers of Russian troops have already moved into the breakaway regions.
Throughout the Russian military build-up in recent months videos have been posted on social media of tanks and heavy equipment moving near the Ukrainian border.
Yet few have emerged on Tuesday from the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk that make up the Donbas region.
When they have, it is unclear if the vehicles belong to separatist rebels or Russian forces. The vehicles are largely unmarked and match the types of equipment held by both the separatists and Russian forces.
This makes it difficult to know the extent of the Russian presence. If large numbers of their troops were deployed overnight, more footage would be expected to have surfaced by now. However, with an occupation looming, it is also possible people are less willing to post their videos online.
The overall picture would appear to support the Russian government’s claim that they are yet to deploy soldiers to these areas, but given their stated intentions, it is presumably only a matter of time.
As Russian MPs met to discuss the vote, the Kremlin announced Mr Putin had ratified friendship treaties with the two breakaway republics – a move Russia says allows it to build military bases there as well as deploy troops, agree a joint defence posture and tighten economic integration.
EU to sanction Russian officials over Ukraine actions
The 27 European Union nations have unanimously agreed an initial set of sanctions targeting Russian officials over their actions in Ukraine, France’s foreign minister has said.
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said the package, which was approved on Tuesday, “will hurt Russia, and it will hurt a lot”.
He said the sanctions would affect members of Russia’s lower house of parliament and other individuals involved in approving the deployment of Russian troops to rebel-held regions of eastern Ukraine.
President Joe Biden also announced that the US would sanction Russian oligarchs in retaliation for actions against Ukraine, before warning of further measures.
The move came after the UK issued sanctions targeting five Russian banks and three oligarchs, freezing their UK assets and banning travel to Britain.
Ukraine considers cutting diplomatic ties with Russia
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he will consider breaking diplomatic ties with Russia. Kyiv also recalled its ambassador in Moscow.
It comes amid an ongoing crisis in the region, with Western powers bracing for a Russian invasion for weeks after it massed an estimated 150,000 troops on three sides of Ukraine.
Source: Sky News
