The Ukrainian military says two soldiers have been killed and 12 wounded in shelling by pro-Russian separatists in east Ukraine in the past 24 hours, the most casualties this year, as ceasefire violations increase.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine after recognising them as independent on Monday, accelerating a crisis the West fears could unleash a major war.
A Reuters witness saw tanks and other military hardware moving through the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk after Mr Putin formally recognised the breakaway regions and ordered the deployment of Russian forces to “keep the peace”.
About five tanks were seen in a column on the edge of Donetsk and two more in another part of town, a Reuters reporter said. No insignia was visible on the vehicles.
“We are on our land, we are not afraid of anyone or anything.” So declared Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky when he addressed his country just after 2am local time.
His message came after countries including the UK and US warned of sanctions on Russia after Vladimir Putin recognised the breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine as independent.
Boris Johnson is leading a crisis meeting of ministers and senior officials to consider the response to Mr Putin’s actions.
Moscow said on Tuesday that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was still ready for talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“Even during the most difficult moments … we say: we are ready for negotiations,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in remarks aired on Youtube.
Ukraine’s borders remain “unchangeable” regardless of Russia’s recent actions, Kyiv’s ambassador to the United Nations told the Security Council.
Follow the latest updates below.
07:11 AM
‘We are not afraid. We won’t cede anything’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed his country just after 2am local time: “We are not afraid. We won’t cede anything.”
Mr Zelensky said Vladimir Putin withdrew from the Minsk Agreements by ordering troops into Ukraine.
“We are committed to peace and diplomacy. We are on our land, we are not afraid of anyone or anything, and we will not give anything to anyone, and we are sure of that,” Mr Zelensky said.
“It’s not February 2014, but February 2022,” he said in a reference to Ukraine’s weak army eight years ago when Russia took Crimea.
06:56 AM
US sanctions halt American business activity in breakaway regions
Vladimir Putin’s announcement drew international condemnation and immediate US sanctions to halt American business activity in the breakaway regions and ban import of all goods from those areas.
The measures were separate from sanctions the United States and its allies had prepared if Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said.
A senior US official said the deployment to breakaway enclaves did not yet constitute a “further invasion” that would trigger the harshest sanctions as Russia already had forces there, but that a wider campaign could come at any time.
Britain, France and Germany also agreed to respond to Russia’s recognition of the breakaway regions with sanctions, and the White House said it would announce further measures on Tuesday.
06:50 AM
Boris Johnson is leading a crisis meeting
Boris Johnson is leading a crisis meeting of ministers and senior officials to consider the response to Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine.
The Government is preparing to slap sanctions on key Russian figures and businesses.
At the 6.30am meeting of the Cobra committee, the Prime Minister will be briefed on the latest intelligence after Mr Putin ordered his troops to carry out “peacekeeping” duty in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
The Cobra meeting follows an emergency session of the UN Security Council, where the UK’s ambassador Dame Barbara Woodward said Russia has “brought us to the brink”, warning that the country’s actions “will have severe and far-reaching consequences”.
Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, said new sanctions to be announced on Tuesday were in response to Russia’s “breach of international law and attack on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
Boris Johnson said of Russia’s decision to recognise the separatist regions: “This is plainly in breach of international law, it’s a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine.
“I think it’s a very ill omen and a very dark sign.”
06:40 AM
Ukraine says two soldiers have been killed
The Ukrainian military says two soldiers have been killed and 12 wounded in shelling by pro-Russian separatists in east Ukraine in the past 24 hours, the most casualties this year, as ceasefire violations increase.
The military said on its Facebook page it had recorded 84 cases of shelling by separatists who it said had opened fire on about 40 settlements along the frontline using heavy artillery.
Ukraine has accused Russia of provoking the violence, saying Moscow used it as a pretext to formally recognise eastern Ukraine as independent and move its troops into the region, precipitating a crisis that the West fears could unleash a major war.
06:35 AM
Here’s what happened overnight:
World leaders have expressed concern over Russia’s actions, with the US warning the consequences will be dire around the world.
-
Moscow said this morning that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was still ready for talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
-
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed his country just after 2am local time: “We are committed to peace and diplomacy. We are on our land, we are not afraid of anyone or anything, and we will not give anything to anyone, and we are sure of that”
-
A senior Chinese diplomat says China is concerned about the evolution of the situation. China has called for restraint and is encouraging every effort to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis
-
Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, said new sanctions to be announced on Tuesday were in response to Russia’s “breach of international law and attack on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”
-
Boris Johnson said of Russia’s decision to recognise the separatist regions: “This is plainly in breach of international law, it’s a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine
-
The US will announce further measures on Tuesday, but an official said America could not commit to a summit with Mr Putin
04:31 AM
‘Consequences of Russia’s actions will be dire – across … the globe’
The US ambassador to the United Nations has dismissed “as nonsense” Vladimir Putin’s announcement that he is putting Russian troops in separatist areas of eastern Ukraine as peacekeepers, saying their presence is “clearly the basis for Russia’s attempt to create a pretext for a further invasion of Ukraine”.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday night that this move and Mr Putin’s earlier announcement that Russia will recognise the separatist areas as “independent states” are also an “unprovoked” attack on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
By his actions, she said, Mr Putin “has torn the Minsk Agreement to shreds”.
Ms Thomas-Greenfield said Mr Putin “has put before the world a choice” and it “must not look away” because “history tells us that looking the other way in the face of such hostility will be a far more costly path”.
She said Mr Putin is testing to see “how far he can push us all”, and all countries must stand up for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries.
Ms Thomas-Greenfield warned that “the consequences of Russia’s actions will be dire – across Ukraine, across Europe, and across the globe”.
04:22 AM
Japan criticises Russian actions
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida criticised Russia for violating Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity and said his country will discuss possible “severe actions” including sanctions with the international community.
“Those [Russia’s] actions are unacceptable, and we express our strong condemnation,” Mr Kishida told reporters on Tuesday. “Japan is watching the development with grave concern.”
Separately, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said it was important that Group of Seven nations that share values such as democracy and rule of law stick together and lead the international community. He declined to say if Japan is planning its own sanctions against Russia.
04:18 AM
Air travel could be affected, US warns
US secretary of state Antony Blinken has warned that there is a strong likelihood that any Russian military operations would severely restrict commercial air travel.
“Russian troops have continued to move closer to the border in what looks like plans for an invasion at any moment,” he said.
04:03 AM
China calls for restraint and a diplomatic solution
China has called for restraint and is encouraging every effort to find a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis, saying Beijing believes all countries should solve disputes by peaceful means in line with the UN Charter.
China’s UN Ambassador Zhang Jun called on the key parties in the Ukraine dispute “to continue dialogue and consultation and seek reasonable solutions”.
Mr Zhang gave very brief remarks at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday night called by Ukraine, the US and six other countries.
The Chinese ambassador made no mention of actions on Monday by its usual ally, Russia, saying only that “all parties concerned must exercise restraint, and avoid any action that may fuel tensions”, and to “welcome and encourage every effort for a diplomatic solution”.
Chinese state media is reporting that China’s Embassy in Kyiv notified its citizens in Ukraine to heighten their safety awareness and avoid conflict areas.
On Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said China hoped all parties would pursue a solution that is “truly conducive to safeguarding the security of Europe”.
04:01 AM
How the world reacted to Vladimir Putin’s speech
Western powers reacted swiftly to the decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin to recognise the independence of the two self-proclaimed republics in eastern Ukraine, condemning Moscow and calling for sanctions.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson denounced Mr Putin’s decision as “a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and integrity of the Ukraine”.
A “very robust package of sanctions” would be triggered “with the first toecap of a Russian incursion or Russian invasion”, he added.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Mr Putin’s decision required “a swift and firm response, and we will take appropriate steps in coordination with partners”.
A French official described the address to the nation by Mr Putin as “paranoid”, accusing him of breaking promises made to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.
Read the full story here.
03:56 AM
Putin orders Russian forces into Ukraine
[embedded content]
In an ominous speech that lasted almost an hour, Vladimir Putin accused the Ukrainian Government of “genocide” and said it was sure to seek nuclear weapons with the assistance of the West.
Afterwards, he signed a decree that recognised the independence of the Russian-speaking separatist regions, which have been under effective control since Russia stoked a separatist war there in 2014.
In Mr Putin’s eyes, it could create a legal basis for the Russian army to move across the border into the Donbas region and engage in direct conflict with Ukrainian forces, dashing months of Western diplomatic efforts aimed at averting an invasion.
03:42 AM
Could there be other Ukrainian targets?
03:36 AM
Vladimir Putin warns of ‘bloodshed’
The world continues to react to Vladimir Putin’s warning of “bloodshed” as he ordered Russian troops into two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, raising fears of a full-on invasion.
The Russian president ordered the army across the border to “maintain peace” after he recognised the independence of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in a televised address to the nation.
In an ominous speech that lasted almost an hour, Mr Putin accused the Ukrainian Government of “genocide” and said it was sure to seek nuclear weapons with the assistance of the West.
Read the full story here.
