Washington [US], February 24 (ANI): US President Joe Biden on Wednesday directed his administration to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG pipeline constructor, its operator and on its corporate officers after Germany’s announcement to halt the pipeline.
In a statement by White House, Biden said, “Yesterday, after further close consultations between our two governments, Germany announced that it would halt certification of the pipeline. Today, I have directed my administration to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and its corporate officers.”
This comes at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of two Ukraine breakaway regions which is deemed to be a breach of international law by the west.
“These steps are another piece of our initial tranche of sanctions in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. As I have made clear, we will not hesitate to take further steps if Russia continues to escalate,” the statement added.
At the outset of the White House statement Biden talked about Russia’s further ‘invasion’ of Ukraine and said, “Since Russia began deploying troops to the Ukrainian border, the United States has worked closely with our Allies and partners to deliver a strong, unified response. As I said when I met with Chancellor Scholz earlier this month, Germany has been a leader in that effort, and we have closely coordinated our efforts to stop the Nord Stream 2 pipeline if Russia further invaded Ukraine.”
“Through his actions, President Putin has provided the world with an overwhelming incentive to move away from Russian gas and to other forms of energy. I want to thank Chancellor Scholz for his close partnership and continued dedication to holding Russia accountable for its actions,” the statement read.
Following Putin’s announcement of recognizing the independence of Ukraine breakaway regions, Biden on Monday signed an Executive Order that will prohibit all new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the “so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics”. The US strongly condemned Putin’s decision to recognize the “so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics” as “independent.”
US Ambassador to UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield supported Ukraine’s call for an Urgent Meeting of the UN Security Council. She criticized Russia’s announcement and said that it is “nothing more than theatre, apparently designed to create a pretext for a further invasion of Ukraine.”
Notably, Putin has also ordered the sending of the Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine’s breakaway regions after recognizing their independence in his Monday address to the nation. Notably, in March 2014, Russia invaded and then annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. In April pro-Russian separatists in the Donbas region declared independence. The war continued in the eastern Ukrainian region and then spread westwards. Roughly 13,000 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians eventually died in the conflict.
In April 2019, Volodymyr Zelensky, a former comedian, was elected by a large majority as President of Ukraine on a promise to restore Donbas to the country. The crisis deepened in January 2021, when Zelensky appealed the US President Biden to let Ukraine enter NATO. In the spring of 2021, Russia started massing troops near Ukraine’s borders in what it said were training exercises.
Russia stated that its troop deployment is in response to NATO’s steady eastward expansion. It argued that its moves are aimed at protecting its own security considerations. (ANI)
Ukraine crisis may create worst global refugee crisis: US Ambassador to UN
Washington [US], February 24 (ANI): The United States ambassador at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Linda Thomas-Greenfield, on Wednesday, said that the Ukrainian crisis may lead to the worst refugee crisis in the world today, with some 5 million people possibly displaced. “If Russia continues down this path, it could, according to our estimates, create a new refugee crisis, one of the largest facing the world today, with as many as 5 million more people displaced by Russia’s war of choice and putting pressure on Ukraine’s neighbors,” Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.
“Has Russia headed these calls [for diplomacy]? No. Instead, it has responded with additional actions to undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty, including mass disinformation, which we just heard again today, cyberattacks, and efforts to create a ‘false flag’ pretext,” Thomas-Greenfield said adding, “Colleagues, there is no middle ground. Calling for both sides to deescalate only gives Russia a pass. Russia is the aggressor here.”
During the meeting, Thomas-Greenfield once again said that “Russia’s aggression not only threatens all of Ukraine, but every member state and the UN itself.” Moreover, she reiterated US’ stand on Ukraine saying, “The United States rejects that firmly. This is 2022. We’re not going back to an era of empires and colonies – or to the USSR or the Soviet Union. We have moved forward,” Thomas-Greenfield said.
“Colleagues now is not the time to sit on the sidelines. Now is the time to get off of the sidelines. Let us show Russia that it is isolated and alone in its aggressive actions. Let us stand fully behind the principles of sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity for Ukraine, and for all member states,” she added. (ANI)
Ukraine Parliament,Verkhovna Rada, approves state of emergency
Kiev [Ukraine], February 24 (ANI): Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada, approved declaring a state of emergency in the whole country except for Donetsk and Luhansk regions on Wednesday amid the escalating situation at the country’s borders. Earlier in the day, NSDC (National Security and Defense Council) Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said that they have decided to declare a state of emergency across the country, except for the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
“The issue of declaring a state of emergency was discussed … The decision was made. According to our legislation, the Verkhovna Rada must approve this decision within 48 minutes … A state of emergency will be introduced throughout Ukraine, except for the Donetsk and Luhansk regions,” Danilov told reporters.
Measures will be tightened or softened depending on the situation in different parts of the country, he said, noting that the emergency is planned to be declared for 30 days and can be extended up to 60 days. After declaring the emergency state, the authorities do not plan to confiscate registered weapons from the population, the NSDC chief had added. (ANI)
Putin discusses Ukraine crisis, security guarantees with Erdogan
Moscow [Russia], February 24 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a telephonic conversation on Wednesday where both the leaders discussed the Ukraine crisis and security guarantees between Russia and the West.
They also exchanged views on the situation with Russia’s recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics. “Vladimir Putin stressed the objective necessity to take that decision based on the Ukrainian authorities’ aggression in Donbas and their categorical refusal to implement the Minsk Agreements,” Kremlin said in its official statement.
Additionally, Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave his views on the matter. Apart from that, the issues of working out “long-term legally binding security guarantees” for the Russian Federation were also discussed.
Kremlin added, “In this context, Vladimir Putin expressed his disappointment with the US and NATO response which came down to an attempt to ignore Russia’s legitimate concerns and demands.”
The presidents agreed to continue Russian-Turkish contacts in various formats. (ANI)
