WEB DESK
In an emergency UN meeting, the US said Russia’s claim that troops were on a “peacekeeping” mission was “nonsense.” Germany said that with separatist territories’ recognition, Russia had “unmasked itself.”
The UN Security Council on Monday accused Russia of “violating international law” following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s move to recognize the separatist territories in eastern Ukraine as “independent.”
At an emergency meeting in New York, the US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said that Russia’s “attack” on Ukraine “is unprovoked and violates international law.”
Thomas-Greenfield shot back against Putin’s claim that the troops were on a “peacekeeping” mission.
“He calls them peacekeepers. This is nonsense. We know what they really are,” Thomas-Greenfield said.
“The consequences of Russia’s actions will be dire, across Ukraine, Europe and the globe,” she said.
The US envoy still insisted on a diplomatic path. “We continue to believe that the diplomatic table is the only place where responsible nations resolve their differences.”
As the world reacted to Putin’s announcement, top diplomats of EU members states are set to meet Tuesday in Brussels to discuss possible sanctions against Russia, while the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said sanctions would be imposed in the afternoon.
Ukraine: ‘We are not afraid’
Ukraine’s UN representative Sergiy Kyslytsya demanded Russia withdraw its decision to recognize the two breakaway republics.
“The internationally recognized borders of Ukraine have been and will remain unchangeable regardless of any statements and actions by the Russian Federation,” Kyslytsya told the chamber.
“We are on our land and we are not afraid of anything or anyone,” he added.
As the world reacted to Putin’s announcement, top diplomats of EU members states are set to meet Tuesday in Brussels to discuss possible sanctions against Russia, while the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said sanctions would be imposed in the afternoon.
DW correspondent in Kyiv, Nick Connolly, reported that while tensions were building, Russia’s move to recognize Luhansk and Donetsk was still surprising to people on the ground.
“There’s just a lot of shock here in Ukraine at Vladimir Putin’s extraordinary speech yesterday full of grievances, historical grievance,” Connolly said, adding that no one was really expecting Russia’s recognition of the two separatist regions.
Connolly reported that many in Ukraine now await Russia’s move, whether it will incorporate the territories within their separatist borders or the wider borders they claim, which are under Ukranian control and could spark a wider conflict.