Ukraine news live Putin sends troops into eastern territories as US calls peacekeeping mission nonsense

'Ukraine was created by Russia': says Putin while addressing the nation

Members of the UN Security Council have slammed Russia's decision to recognise the Ukrainian rebel-held territories of Donetsk and Luhansk and to send "peacekeepers" into the regions, with the US calling it a pretext for a full-scale invasion.

Russian envoys responded at the emergency meeting held overnight, saying that they will not allow a "new bloodbath" in Ukraine's Donbass.

President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russia's defence ministry to dispatch "peacekeepers" to two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine as part of a decree signed on Monday in recognition of the breakaway states as independent entities.

He said he was confident that Russia's citizens supported the decision after considering requests from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR).

In the wake of Moscow's most recent advance, Boris Johnson will chair a Cobra meeting on Monday to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine, a No 10 spokesperson said. It is understood officials will gather at around 6.30am.

Mr Johnson will discuss the latest developments, as well as "coordinate the UK response including agreeing a significant package of sanctions to be introduced immediately," the spokesperson said.

Show latest update 1645513128Russia says too early to discuss borders of Luhansk and Donetsk

Russia's foreign ministry has said it is too early to draw out borders of Donetsk and Luhansk, just hours after it recognised the two separatist regions as independent, fuelling fears of increased conflict.

Moscow first needs to ratify its friendship treaties with the two breakaway Ukrainian territories before it can chart out the borders, reported Russian news agency RIA.

The Russian parliament is expected to review the Kremlin's friendship treaties with Donetsk and Luhansk today.

Arpan Rai22 February 2022 06:581645511703Japan backs US-led sanctions on Russia

Japan has said it is ready to rally behind the US and other G7 nations as they prepare to impose sanctions on Russia after president Vladimir Putin ordered troops to enter eastern Ukraine.

Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida said his country was ready for a strong response that could include sanctions, as he termed Russia's territorial move on Monday "unacceptable and in violation of international law".

This comes shortly after the White House said it would announce new sanctions against Russia.

"We are coordinating with allies and partners on that announcement," a spokesperson from the White House said.

Arpan Rai22 February 2022 06:351645509786US's Blinken discusses Ukraine with Chinese counterpart

The United States secretary of state Antony Blinken spoke with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi today as the two discussed the Kremlin's aggression against Ukraine, and also North Korea.

"Secretary of State Antony J Blinken spoke today with PRC State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi about developments in the DPRK and Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The Secretary underscored the need to preserve Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the statement released by the state department read.

No other details about the call were immediately clear.

This comes shortly after the Mr Blinken spoke to Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba to "reaffirm unwavering US support for Ukraine."

The statement from the state department said: "The Secretary noted our swift response to Russia's decision to recognize the purported "independence" of the so-called republics controlled by Russian proxy authorities in eastern Ukraine."

"They discussed the strong measures we announced today in response and reiterated that additional steps would be forthcoming. The Secretary added that he looked forward to seeing the Foreign Minister in-person tomorrow in Washington D.C., where they would continue to discuss these issues," it added.

Arpan Rai22 February 2022 06:031645508735Kenya hits out at Russia at UNSC: 'Multilateralism lies on its deathbed tonight'

Kenya, currently a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, delivered a sharp rebuke to Russia in its comments on the Ukraine crisis at the emergency meeting in New York.

"We meet tonight on the brink of a major conflict in Ukraine. The diplomacy we urged on the 17 February is failing," the statement by Kenya's envoy said.

"The territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine stands breached. The charter of the United Nations continues to wilt under the relentless assault of the powerful.

"In one moment it is invoked with reverence by the very same countries who then turn their backs on it in pursuit of objectives diametrically opposed to international peace and security," read the statement.

It added: "Multilateralism lies on its deathbed tonight. It has been assaulted, as it has been by other powerful states in the recent past."

Kenya said it registers its strong concern and opposition to the recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states.

"Today, 'the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine' has been affected," the statement added.

Arpan Rai22 February 2022 05:451645507919Analysis: Vladimir Putin has painted a foreboding picture of what lies ahead in Ukraine

Russian president Vladimir Putin's 58-minute television appearance last evening presented a dark and foreboding picture of what lies ahead as he announced Russia's recognition of the "Peoples' Republics" of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states.

This is something Moscow has refrained from doing for the last eight years since they were formed as breakaway territories.

As a result, Russian troops can now be sent openly rather than surreptitiously into these separatist enclaves.

By the time Mr Putin finished his speech following the Russian security council session, the hopes of a peaceful resolution to the crisis were close to being in tatters.

World affairs editor Kim Sengupta explains how the ball is now very much in the court of the US and west in how it responds to what has happened.

Does the "very heavy price" they have been saying Russia would pay apply only to aggressive military action, or would it apply to the de-facto annexation of another part of Ukraine, he asks.

Read the full analysis here:

Arpan Rai22 February 2022 05:311645506042France's Macron believes Putin broke his commitments on Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron considers that Russian President Vladimir Putin has broken his commitments, and that his decision to escalate the situation in Ukraine needs to be sanctioned, the Elysee palace said on Monday.

It added that Macron wants the European Union to take proportionate and targeted sanctions against Russia for violating international treaties.

President Putin delivered a historical-political speech that was accusatory and mixed various considerations of a rigid and paranoid nature," a French presidential official told reporters, referring to Putin's comments on Ukraine earlier Monday.

Macron went as far as possible on the diplomatic path, they added, but still wants Friday's planned meeting of Russian and French foreign ministers in Paris to go ahead.

Emily Atkinson22 February 2022 05:001645505887Ukraine says won't succumb to provocations at the UNSC

Ukrainian ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya told the United Nations today that the country under Russian threat wants peace and will not succumb to provocations.

"We want peace and we are consistent in our actions...We are committed to a political and diplomatic settlement, we do not succumb to provocations," Mr Kyslytsya said at the emergency meeting, delivering Ukraine's first remarks at the UN amid the brewing crisis.

"Today, the entire membership of the United Nations is under attack. Under attack by the country that occupied the membership of the Security Council in 1991 bypassing the UN charter," the envoy said, adding that Russia occupied parts of Ukraine in 2014.

"We demand Russia to return to the table for negotiations. We condemn the order to deploy additional Russian occupation troops in the territories of Ukraine," Mr Kyslytsya said.

He added: "We demand the immediate and complete verifiable withdrawal of occupation troops."

Arpan Rai22 February 2022 04:581645505850UK ambassador to the UN urges Russia to 'step back'

The UK ambassador speaking at the UN emergency meet has urged Russia to "step back" from invading Russia ahead of Boris Johnson's Cobra meeting to discuss latest developments.

Dame Barbara Woodward said that Russia has "brought us to the brink", warning that the country's actions "will have severe and far-reaching consequences".

The Cobra meeting, slated to take place at 6.30am, will be used to "coordinate the UK response", including agreeing a "significant package of sanctions to be introduced immediately", according to a Downing Street spokesperson.

Amy Gibbons has the full story here

Arpan Rai22 February 2022 04:571645503221Ukraine crisis: China urges all parties to exercise restraint

China's ambassador to the UN has urged all parties involved in the Ukraine crisis to exercise restraint and avoid any action that can fuel tensions.

Chinese envoy Zhang Jun said Beijing welcomed and encouraged every effort for a diplomatic solution to the crisis, as he delivered brief remarks to the emergency meeting.

Arpan Rai22 February 2022 04:131645502442Watch: 'Plainly in breach of international law', says PM after Putin recognises independence of DPR and LPR'Plainly in breach of international law', says PM after Putin recognises independence of DPR and LPREmily Atkinson22 February 2022 04:00

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