A long-feard Russian invasion of Ukraine appeared to be imminent Monday, if not already underway, with Russian President Vladimir Putin ordering forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine.
MOSCOW -- A long-feared Russian invasion of Ukraine appeared to be imminent Monday, if not already underway, with Russian President Vladimir Putin ordering forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, sought to project calm, telling the country:"We are not afraid of anyone or anything. We don't owe anyone anything. And we won't give anything to anyone." His foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, would be in Washington on Tuesday to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the State Department said.
Putin justified his decision in a far-reaching, pre-recorded speech blaming NATO for the current crisis and calling the U.S.-led alliance an existential threat to Russia. Sweeping through more than a century of history, he painted today's Ukraine as a modern construct that is inextricably linked to Russia. He charged that Ukraine had inherited Russia's historic lands and after the Soviet collapse was used by the West to contain Russia.
At an earlier meeting of Putin's Security Council, a stream of top officials argued for recognizing the regions' independence. One slipped up and said he favored including them as part of Russia - but Putin quickly corrected him. Russia says it wants Western guarantees that NATO won't allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members - and Putin said Monday that a simple moratorium on Ukraine's accession wouldn't be enough. Moscow has also demanded the alliance halt weapons deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe - demands flatly rejected by the West.
That deal was resented by many in Ukraine who saw it as a capitulation, a blow to the country's integrity and a betrayal of national interests. Putin and other officials argued Monday that the Ukrainian government has shown no appetite for implementing it.
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Russia-Ukraine live updates: Putin intends to recognize separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, Kremlin saysBREAKING: Russian Pres. Putin intends to recognize separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, Kremlin says.
Weiterlesen »
Russia President Putin: Should consider recognising independence of breakaway regions of UkraineIn a discussion on recent nuclear exercises with his security council on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of not intending to
Weiterlesen »
Russia-Ukraine live updates: Biden, Putin agree to summit later this weekPres. Biden and Russian Pres. Putin have agreed to a summit 'in principle,' with one major condition: that Russia does not invade Ukraine.
Weiterlesen »
Russia-Ukraine live updates: Biden, Putin agree to summit📸: Ukrainian service member pets a dog on the front line near the city of Novoluhanske in the Donetsk region, Ukraine.
Weiterlesen »
Russia-Ukraine live updates: Putin says he'll recognize separatist regions as independentJUST IN: President of the EU Commission: 'The recognition of the two separatist territories in Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law...The EU and its partners will react with unity, firmness and with determination in solidarity with Ukraine.'
Weiterlesen »