In case you’re just joining us
There has been a lot going on today in the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Here’s what you need to know:
- Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered troops into two rebel-held regions in eastern Ukraine, after recognising them as independent states
- He said the troops will be “peacekeeping” in the regions, but the US said that was “nonsense” and amounts to the “beginning of an invasion”
- Russia’s upper house of parliament voted in favour of giving Putin the authority to deploy armed forces abroad, which formally gives him the green light to send troops into eastern Ukraine
- Putin gave a short news conference today and repeated his demand that Ukraine should not be allowed to join the Nato defence alliance
- US President Joe Biden will address the nation at 13:00 EST (18:00 GMT)
- Western countries have started to impose sanctions on Russia – the UK hit five banks and three wealthy individuals with restrictions
- Germany has put on hold a major gas pipeline project from Russia, the Nord Stream 2
- Hungary will deploy troops along its border with Ukraine
- Belarus, a close ally of Russia, plans to buy military helicopters, jets and anti-aircraft missiles systems from Russia in the coming years, local media has reported
- Nato’s chief has said it’s “never too late not to attack”
PUTIN: “THE WAR DOESN’T HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE?”
Kremlin ‘regrets’ suspension of Nord Stream 2 certification
We’ve got some reaction from the Kremlin to Germany’s decision to suspend the final approval of the gas pipeline between Russia and Germany.
The Interfax news agency is reporting Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying it regrets Germany’s decision.
Peskov says the Kremlin hopes the delay of Nord Stream 2 is temporary.
Germany’s big decision on Russian gas
Following Vladimir Putin‘s recognition of the two rebel-controlled regions in Eastern Ukraine, Germany has confirmed it will halt the certification process for its controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
The pipeline was designed to deliver cheaper gas from Moscow to Germany directly.
Germany was under huge pressure from the US and other EU countries to make the move.
But unity amongst Western allies will be tested when sanctions and counter-sanctions bite. Some countries will be far more affected than others.
Germany’s federation of industries, BDI, has warned soaring energy prices could pose an “existential threat” to German businesses.
Austria and Italy have also voiced reservations about a possible future sanctions package threatened by the EU that could be far bigger should Putin take further action in Ukraine.
Diplomats privately point at Hungary as a possible disrupter due to Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s close ties to Moscow.
Ukraine crisis: Russia keeps troops in Belarus amid Ukraine fears
Hungary to deploy troops at the border with Ukraine
Hungary will deploy troops along its 137km border with Ukraine amid fears of an influx of refugees if the crisis with Russia escalates, Defence Minister Tibor Benko has said
Countries in Eastern Europe are making preparations for people fleeing Ukraine.
Hungary’s armed forces will carry out humanitarian tasks as well as close the Ukraine border with Hungary “to ensure that no armed groups can enter the territory”, Defence Minister Tibor Benko said.
“Hungary’s security is the most important, we are reinforcing the Ukraine-Hungary border,” the defence ministry said in a statement.
Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban is known for his hard stance on migration.
In contrast, neighbour to both, Romania says it could take in half a million refugees if the crisis in Ukraine worsens.
“There are several estimates, but we could receive over 500,000 refugees, that is… the number for which we have prepared,” defence minister Vasile Dîncu told reporters.
Never too late not to attack, says Stoltenberg
More from Nato’s Jens Stoltenberg – he says every indication is that Russia continues to plan for a full-scale attack of Ukraine – and called on them to step back, adding: “It’s never too late not to attack.”
The alliance is now considering its next steps amid a changing security situation, which could include “battle groups” in places including Romania.
“Nato has to respond when we see aggressive actions by Russia, but we continue to strive for dialogue, for de-escalation and we believe it is important to talk,” he says.
Nato chief warns of false flag operations
Speaking a little while ago this afternoon, Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg continued the warnings we’ve been hearing for a few weeks now that Russia is trying to engage in “false flag operations” to create a pretext for an attack on Ukraine.
“We know that there are many Russian intelligence officers operating in Ukraine,” he said, speaking in Brussels.
And he stressed the right of nations like Ukraine to seek membership in Nato, adding: “We cannot accept a return to the age of spheres of influence where big powers bully, intimidate or dictate to others.”
Putin talks of Ukraine’s ‘nuclear’ ambition
Putin says Ukraine should renounce Nato aims
Putin says the best decision Ukraine could make would be to renounce its ambition to join Nato.
And he calls on Ukraine to disarm, saying an “armed to the teeth Ukraine” is anti-Russia and unacceptable.
He’s speaking shortly after we heard from Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg, who said nations like Ukraine had a right to seek membership of the alliance.
We’re hearing from Vladimir Putin at a press conference just now, but he’s already ordering troops into two rebel-held regions in eastern Ukraine, after recognising them as independent states.
In his last TV address from the Kremlin, Putin sought to justify his actions by making a series of claims about Ukraine, claiming amongst other things, that it plans to “create its own nuclear weapons”.
But is that true?
Biden to address the nation
We’re hearing that US President Joe Biden will address his nation later on the Ukraine crisis, the White House says.
Parliament green lights deployment of forces outside Russia
The upper house of Russia’s parliament has voted unanimously in favour of giving President Putin authority to deploy armed forces abroad.
It formally allows Putin to send troops into the Donbas region of Ukraine.
The head of the upper house says they expect forces to carry out peacekeeping tasks – but the US has previously said calling troops peacekeepers was “nonsense”.
Russia’s deputy defence minister says ‘left with no choice’
Here’s some more on Putin’s request to the upper house of Russia’s parliament to use armed forces abroad after he earlier recognised two rebel-held regions of Ukraine as independent states.
The Russian Defence Ministry says it intends to “defend residents of the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics”. One of Russia’s deputy defence ministers said Russia had been “left with no choice”.
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