PARIS - Western powers reacted swiftly to Monday’s 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.
Here is a summary of the responses so far: - Move ‘won’t go unanswered’: Biden, Macron, Scholz - The leaders of France, Germany and the United States condemn Putin’s move as a “clear breach” of the Minsk peace agreements.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden agree that “this step will not go unanswered”. - US says Putin creating a ‘pretext for war’ - US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield heaps scorn on Putin’s assertion that the Russian troops would take on a “peacekeeping” role. “This is nonsense. We know what they really are,” she says. The US envoy says an earlier speech by Putin amounts to a “series of outrageous, false claims” that were aimed at “creating a pretext for war”. - UN condemns ‘violation’ -
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres says Russia’s decision amounts to “a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations”. - EU to adopt sanctions -
European Union foreign ministers are on Tuesday to adopt sanctions against Russia over its recognition of the separatist regions and a further deployment of troops on its neighbour’s territory, the bloc’s foreign policy chief says. “Our response will be in the form of sanctions,” Josep Borrell says. - Germany halting Nord Stream 2 -
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he is suspending the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project with Russia in response to Moscow’s recognition of the two breakaway regions.
Here is a summary of the responses so far: - Move ‘won’t go unanswered’: Biden, Macron, Scholz - The leaders of France, Germany and the United States condemn Putin’s move as a “clear breach” of the Minsk peace agreements.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden agree that “this step will not go unanswered”. - US says Putin creating a ‘pretext for war’ - US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield heaps scorn on Putin’s assertion that the Russian troops would take on a “peacekeeping” role. “This is nonsense. We know what they really are,” she says. The US envoy says an earlier speech by Putin amounts to a “series of outrageous, false claims” that were aimed at “creating a pretext for war”. - UN condemns ‘violation’ -
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres says Russia’s decision amounts to “a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations”. - EU to adopt sanctions -
European Union foreign ministers are on Tuesday to adopt sanctions against Russia over its recognition of the separatist regions and a further deployment of troops on its neighbour’s territory, the bloc’s foreign policy chief says. “Our response will be in the form of sanctions,” Josep Borrell says. - Germany halting Nord Stream 2 -
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he is suspending the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project with Russia in response to Moscow’s recognition of the two breakaway regions.
