The European Union (EU), the United Kingdom (UK), and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) condemned Russia’s latest move to recognise parts of eastern Ukraine—Donetsk and Luhansk—as independent republics.
In a press release condemning Moscow’s decision, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel called the step a violation of international law and the Minsk agreements. “The Union will react with sanctions against those involved in this illegal act,” the statement said. They also reaffirmed their support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence. However, the leaders did not provide details of the sanctions or measures that will be levelled against Russia.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of sanctions if he continued on this path. “We call upon President Putin to respect international law and the main agreements and expect him not to recognize the independence of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts,” he declared.
Furthermore, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the decision jeopardises Kyiv’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, undermines efforts taken towards resolving the conflict, and violates the Minsk agreements. His official press release accuses Russia of fuelling conflict in eastern Ukraine by providing arms and financial aid to separatists and staging a pretext to invade Ukraine again. “Allies urge Russia, in the strongest possible terms, to choose the path of diplomacy, and to immediately reverse its massive military build-up in and around Ukraine, and withdraw its forces from Ukraine in accordance with its international obligations and commitments,” the statement added.
Additionally, French President Emmanuel Macron called for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to discuss the escalating Ukraine crisis and targeted sanctions against Putin’s regime.
Similarly, the UK Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Liz Truss asserted that Britain would coordinate sanctions against Russia with the EU and extend support to Ukraine. Downing Street said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson would lead an emergency Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (COBR) meeting on Tuesday to discuss Russia’s latest drastic move and coordinate Britain’s response with allies.
To this end, at an emergency Security Council meeting on Ukraine, the UK’s Representative to the European Union, Barbara Woodward, warned that “an invasion of Ukraine unleashes the forces of war, death and destruction on the people of Ukraine.” She added that Russia’s actions violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a United Nations member state, and “make mockery of the commitments Russia has made through the Budapest Memorandum and the Minsk Agreements.”
Following Russia’s latest assault on Ukrainian sovereignty I spoke to @JosepBorrellF tonight. We agreed 🇬🇧 and 🇪🇺 will coordinate to deliver swift sanctions against Putin’s regime and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/ZmzfCqaRBe
— Liz Truss (@trussliz) February 21, 2022
Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö, who shares cordial relations with Putin, also denounced Russia’s actions.
In an official statement, Germany’s Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, said Russia’s recognition of the separatist self-declared “People’s Republics” in eastern Ukraine violates international laws and undermines years of diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful solution to the current conflict.
“Years of effort in the Normandy format and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) are being destroyed deliberately and without any comprehensible reason. Russia’s credibility in its commitment to a diplomatic solution to the crisis is suffering massive damage,” the statement added.
Furthermore, Baerbock reaffirmed support for Ukraine and said Germany and its allies would respond to this breach of international law, and urged Russia to reverse its decision and resort to diplomacy.
Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Di Maio, also echoed similar sentiments and appealed to all stakeholders to return to negotiations in appropriate formats.
Alongside European partners, the United States (US) also reprimanded Russia’s decision and announced its package of sanctions. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, “The US measures would prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by US persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine,” adding that her country would impose additional sanctions on Russia for their blatant violation of international laws.
Kremlin recognition of the so-called “Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics” as “independent” requires a swift and firm response, and we will take appropriate steps in coordination with partners.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) February 21, 2022
Various sections of the international community have condemned Russian President Putin for signing a decree that officially recognises two eastern Ukrainian territories as independent. Putin followed this move by asking Russia’s Defence Ministry to send “peacekeepers” to these regions to consolidate their independence.