‘He won’t stop at Ukraine’: Warnings Putin could go further amid warnings of full-scale invasion
Kate Buck
Wed, February 23, 2022
Vladimir Putin "won't just stop at Ukraine" as the prospect of a "full-scale" invasion continues to loom, the foreign secretary has said.
Ukraine entered a state of emergency on Wednesday and began to call up military reservists amid fears of war, as Russian tanks and around 200,000 troops sit in readiness on the borders.
Russia has started evacuating its diplomatic staff from all of its diplomatic facilities in Ukraine, the TASS news agency reported, citing a representative of Russia's embassy in Kyiv.
Putin authorised "peacekeeping" soldiers into two breakaway regions in Donetsk and Luhansk on Tuesday, having formally recognised them as independent, in a move that amounts to the beginning of an invasion according to Western leaders.
Liz Truss warned Putin could have bigger plans under wraps.
She told ITV: "He’s said he doesn’t believe in the existence of Ukraine, he believes it should be under Russian control and I fear we have to take him at his word, he won’t just stop in Ukraine either.
“He has also talked about turning the clock back to the 1990s where Russia had control over vast swathes of eastern Europe.”
Moscow denies planning an invasion and has described warnings as anti-Russian hysteria. It has also taken no steps to withdraw the troops deployed along Ukraine's frontiers.
Read more: Ukraine to impose state of emergency, says top security official
A tank drives along a street after Putin ordered the deployment of Russian troops to two breakaway regions. (Reuters)
The UK will inflict more pain on Vladimir Putin if he decides to mount a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the foreign secretary has said. (Getty)
Boris Johnson yesterday announced a series of sanctions after Putin ordered Russian tanks and soldiers into eastern Ukraine.
The PM targeted five banks and three individuals who have had their assets frozen and been banned from travelling to the UK.
Johnson has been accused of weakness and failing to go far enough with the measures.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer pressed the PM to impose more sanctions, saying: “There has already been an invasion. There is clearly concern across the House that his strategy, I accept unintentionally, could send the wrong message."
Johnson insisted the UK was poised to go further, insisting that “any Russian entity, any Russian individual” and members of the Russian parliament could now be targeted by UK sanctions if needed.
Read more: Vladimir Putin gets permission for military force outside Russia from parliament
NATO deployments in Europe as Russia mounts troops on the border with Ukraine (Reuters)
Putin formally recognised Donetsk and Luhansk as independent on Monday, effectively ripping up the 2015 Minsk peace treaty and further inflaming tense relations with the West.
Liz Truss says the UK will inflict even more pain on Putin if he invades Ukraine (Sky News)
Watch: Tanks and armoured personnel carriers near Donetsk
On Tuesday, the Russian parliament gave the green light for Putin to deploy troops abroad, further fuelling fears that a full invasion is imminent.
Around 200,000 Russia troops are now stationed along the Ukrainian border, sparking fears that a full assault on the capital of Kyiv could be part of Russia's plan.
Diplomacy attempts have been made in an effort to diffuse the situations, but summits have become increasingly fraught between Putin and the West.
The US ambassador to the United Nations has said it is still not too late for a diplomatic solution.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that war could be averted if Moscow ceased its aggression towards it neighbour and returned to the negotiating table.
“As you heard President Biden say yesterday, we have not given up on diplomacy,” Thomas-Greenfield told an online briefing.
“The Russians can cease their current actions and come back to the negotiating table and find a way forward that is not going to lead to this devastating conflict that will lead to the loss of thousands more lives in Ukraine.”
Her comments came after the White House announced earlier this week that it was scrapping plans for a possible summit between President Biden and President Putin following Russia’s recognition of the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Kate Buck
Wed, February 23, 2022
Vladimir Putin "won't just stop at Ukraine" as the prospect of a "full-scale" invasion continues to loom, the foreign secretary has said.
Ukraine entered a state of emergency on Wednesday and began to call up military reservists amid fears of war, as Russian tanks and around 200,000 troops sit in readiness on the borders.
Russia has started evacuating its diplomatic staff from all of its diplomatic facilities in Ukraine, the TASS news agency reported, citing a representative of Russia's embassy in Kyiv.
Putin authorised "peacekeeping" soldiers into two breakaway regions in Donetsk and Luhansk on Tuesday, having formally recognised them as independent, in a move that amounts to the beginning of an invasion according to Western leaders.
Liz Truss warned Putin could have bigger plans under wraps.
She told ITV: "He’s said he doesn’t believe in the existence of Ukraine, he believes it should be under Russian control and I fear we have to take him at his word, he won’t just stop in Ukraine either.
“He has also talked about turning the clock back to the 1990s where Russia had control over vast swathes of eastern Europe.”
Moscow denies planning an invasion and has described warnings as anti-Russian hysteria. It has also taken no steps to withdraw the troops deployed along Ukraine's frontiers.
Read more: Ukraine to impose state of emergency, says top security official
A tank drives along a street after Putin ordered the deployment of Russian troops to two breakaway regions. (Reuters)
The UK will inflict more pain on Vladimir Putin if he decides to mount a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the foreign secretary has said. (Getty)
Boris Johnson yesterday announced a series of sanctions after Putin ordered Russian tanks and soldiers into eastern Ukraine.
The PM targeted five banks and three individuals who have had their assets frozen and been banned from travelling to the UK.
Johnson has been accused of weakness and failing to go far enough with the measures.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer pressed the PM to impose more sanctions, saying: “There has already been an invasion. There is clearly concern across the House that his strategy, I accept unintentionally, could send the wrong message."
Johnson insisted the UK was poised to go further, insisting that “any Russian entity, any Russian individual” and members of the Russian parliament could now be targeted by UK sanctions if needed.
Read more: Vladimir Putin gets permission for military force outside Russia from parliament
NATO deployments in Europe as Russia mounts troops on the border with Ukraine (Reuters)
Putin formally recognised Donetsk and Luhansk as independent on Monday, effectively ripping up the 2015 Minsk peace treaty and further inflaming tense relations with the West.
Liz Truss says the UK will inflict even more pain on Putin if he invades Ukraine (Sky News)
Watch: Tanks and armoured personnel carriers near Donetsk
On Tuesday, the Russian parliament gave the green light for Putin to deploy troops abroad, further fuelling fears that a full invasion is imminent.
Around 200,000 Russia troops are now stationed along the Ukrainian border, sparking fears that a full assault on the capital of Kyiv could be part of Russia's plan.
Diplomacy attempts have been made in an effort to diffuse the situations, but summits have become increasingly fraught between Putin and the West.
The US ambassador to the United Nations has said it is still not too late for a diplomatic solution.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that war could be averted if Moscow ceased its aggression towards it neighbour and returned to the negotiating table.
“As you heard President Biden say yesterday, we have not given up on diplomacy,” Thomas-Greenfield told an online briefing.
“The Russians can cease their current actions and come back to the negotiating table and find a way forward that is not going to lead to this devastating conflict that will lead to the loss of thousands more lives in Ukraine.”
Her comments came after the White House announced earlier this week that it was scrapping plans for a possible summit between President Biden and President Putin following Russia’s recognition of the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.
HUBRIS OR CHUTZPAH
Putin calls for international recognition of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimean Peninsula in UkrainePublished: Feb. 22, 2022
Associated Press
Contrasts Russian territorial takeover in southern Ukraine with world’s reaction to Kosovo’s independence drive
Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a speech last March during a concert in Moscow marking the seventh anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
Associated Press
Contrasts Russian territorial takeover in southern Ukraine with world’s reaction to Kosovo’s independence drive
Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a speech last March during a concert in Moscow marking the seventh anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
VYACHESLAV PROKOFYEV/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES
MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for international recognition of Crimea as part of Russia, an end to Ukraine’s NATO membership bid and a halt to weapons shipments there.
Putin claimed Tuesday that Russia’s 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula should be internationally recognized as a legitimate reflection of the local population’s choice, likening it to a vote for Kosovo independence.
The annexation has been widely condemned by Western powers as a breach of international law.
Key Words (March 2014): Putin: Russians are ‘always being cornered’
Also see (March 2014): Putin: Russia can’t ignore Crimea ‘calls for help’
To end the current crisis, he also called for the renunciation of Ukraine’s NATO bid, saying it should assume a “neutral status,” and said that the West should stop sending weapons there.
MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for international recognition of Crimea as part of Russia, an end to Ukraine’s NATO membership bid and a halt to weapons shipments there.
Putin claimed Tuesday that Russia’s 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula should be internationally recognized as a legitimate reflection of the local population’s choice, likening it to a vote for Kosovo independence.
The annexation has been widely condemned by Western powers as a breach of international law.
Key Words (March 2014): Putin: Russians are ‘always being cornered’
Also see (March 2014): Putin: Russia can’t ignore Crimea ‘calls for help’
To end the current crisis, he also called for the renunciation of Ukraine’s NATO bid, saying it should assume a “neutral status,” and said that the West should stop sending weapons there.
FALSE FLAG
Tue, February 22, 2022
Syria on Tuesday announced support of Russian President Vladimir Putin for recognizing two breakaway territories in Ukraine as independent.
Syria's foreign minister, Faisal Mekdad, issued direct support of Putin's recognition Monday of the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine, Reuters reported.
Mekdad also appeared to blame Western nations for tensions in Europe.
"What the West is doing against Russia is similar to what it did against Syria during the terrorist war," Mekdad said on state-run TV, according to Reuters.
Russia has allied with Syria since intervening in the Middle Eastern nation's ongoing civil war in 2015. Moscow has backed Syrian President Bashar Assad in the war effort despite alleged human rights abuses conducted by his regime.
Other Russian allies have been more hesitant to outright support Putin's move to increase tensions in Ukraine.
Azerbaijan and Armenia made no mention of Putin's recognition of the territories, The Associated Press reported. Belarus said it gave "respect and understanding" to Russia's decision, and Kazakhstan said recognizing the regions was not on the nation's agenda.
After declaring the two breakaway territories as independent, Russia sent troops into eastern Ukraine, prompting an outcry from world leaders.
President Biden's administration enacted sanctions prohibiting investments, trade and financing from U.S. citizens to people in the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic and said more sanctions would follow.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned Putin's escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.
"Russia's move to recognize the 'independence' of so-called republics controlled by its own proxies is a predictable, shameful act," Blinken wrote on Twitter.
Ukraine says Russia evacuates chemical plant in Crimea
Meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, in New York City
Wed, February 23, 2022
KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted on Wednesday that Russia had evacuated night-shift staff at the Titan chemicals plant in Crimea.
The chemicals producer is in Armyansk in the northern part of the Ukrainian peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, about 2 km (1-1/4 mile) from territory under Ukrainian control.
While the West expects Russia to start a major invasion of Ukraine, separatist leaders of two breakaway regions, recognized by Russia as independent states this week, asked President Vladimir Putin for military help, the Kremlin said late on Wednesday.
The Titan plant and the Crimean department of the Russian emergency ministry were not available for comments in the early hours on Thursday.
Russian tanks and armoured personnel carriers were seen in Armyansk in recent days, a Crimean resident told Reuters.
"There is a lot of military hardware. The drill ended but it stayed," the resident said.
Ukraine's foreign minister said the evacuation of the plant was a possible preparation for another staged provocation by Russia.
"Moscow seems to have no limits in attempts to falsify pretexts for further aggression," he wrote.
The military intelligence unit of Ukraine's defence ministry said that 50 Titan employees were evacuated on Wednesday evening. The intelligence unit did not rule out that Russia could stage a "terrorist attack" or "chemical sabotage."
(Reporting by Maria Tsvetkova in Kyiv, Olesya Astakhova and Maria Kiselyova in Moscow; Editing by Leslie Adler and Cynthia Osterman)
Meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, in New York City
Wed, February 23, 2022
KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted on Wednesday that Russia had evacuated night-shift staff at the Titan chemicals plant in Crimea.
The chemicals producer is in Armyansk in the northern part of the Ukrainian peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, about 2 km (1-1/4 mile) from territory under Ukrainian control.
While the West expects Russia to start a major invasion of Ukraine, separatist leaders of two breakaway regions, recognized by Russia as independent states this week, asked President Vladimir Putin for military help, the Kremlin said late on Wednesday.
The Titan plant and the Crimean department of the Russian emergency ministry were not available for comments in the early hours on Thursday.
Russian tanks and armoured personnel carriers were seen in Armyansk in recent days, a Crimean resident told Reuters.
"There is a lot of military hardware. The drill ended but it stayed," the resident said.
Ukraine's foreign minister said the evacuation of the plant was a possible preparation for another staged provocation by Russia.
"Moscow seems to have no limits in attempts to falsify pretexts for further aggression," he wrote.
The military intelligence unit of Ukraine's defence ministry said that 50 Titan employees were evacuated on Wednesday evening. The intelligence unit did not rule out that Russia could stage a "terrorist attack" or "chemical sabotage."
(Reporting by Maria Tsvetkova in Kyiv, Olesya Astakhova and Maria Kiselyova in Moscow; Editing by Leslie Adler and Cynthia Osterman)
WITH VASSELS LIKE THIS.....
Syria supports Russia's recognition of breakaway territories in Ukraine
Syria supports Russia's recognition of breakaway territories in Ukraine
Tue, February 22, 2022
Syria on Tuesday announced support of Russian President Vladimir Putin for recognizing two breakaway territories in Ukraine as independent.
Syria's foreign minister, Faisal Mekdad, issued direct support of Putin's recognition Monday of the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine, Reuters reported.
Mekdad also appeared to blame Western nations for tensions in Europe.
"What the West is doing against Russia is similar to what it did against Syria during the terrorist war," Mekdad said on state-run TV, according to Reuters.
Russia has allied with Syria since intervening in the Middle Eastern nation's ongoing civil war in 2015. Moscow has backed Syrian President Bashar Assad in the war effort despite alleged human rights abuses conducted by his regime.
Other Russian allies have been more hesitant to outright support Putin's move to increase tensions in Ukraine.
Azerbaijan and Armenia made no mention of Putin's recognition of the territories, The Associated Press reported. Belarus said it gave "respect and understanding" to Russia's decision, and Kazakhstan said recognizing the regions was not on the nation's agenda.
After declaring the two breakaway territories as independent, Russia sent troops into eastern Ukraine, prompting an outcry from world leaders.
President Biden's administration enacted sanctions prohibiting investments, trade and financing from U.S. citizens to people in the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic and said more sanctions would follow.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned Putin's escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.
"Russia's move to recognize the 'independence' of so-called republics controlled by its own proxies is a predictable, shameful act," Blinken wrote on Twitter.
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