Paris [France], February 23 (ANI): Finance ministers of the European Union will meet from February 25-26 to elaborate on tougher sanctions against Russia, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Wednesday. “We have left in reserve much more severe sanctions against Russia in case [Russian President] Vladimir Putin continues his policy of violating international law. We are working on them. There will be a meeting of EU finance ministers from Friday to Saturday, who will continue this work,” Le Maire told French broadcaster BFM TV, as quoted by Sputnik.
Tensions escalated to unprecedented levels when Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing the independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine on Monday.
Later in the day, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) met following requests for an urgent meeting by the United States and allies.
Taiwan denounces Russia’s recognition of Luhansk, Donetsk
Taipei [Taiwan], February 23 (ANI): Taiwan on Wednesday denounced Russia‘s recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as independent and urged all parties to pursue a peaceful resolution to the conflict in order to jointly uphold peace and stability in the region. This comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision on Monday to recognize Ukraine‘s breakaway regions – Donetsk and Luhansk – as independent entities have escalated the ongoing tensions between the two countries.
“Our government denounces Russia‘s infringement on Ukraine‘s sovereignty — infringement which has led to increased tensions on the Russia–Ukraine border, and calls on all parties to continue working peacefully toward a rational resolution to the dispute in order to jointly uphold peace and stability in the region,” the Russian News Agency Sputnik quoted the local government statement.
Taiwan is ready to participate in efforts that contribute to a peaceful settlement of the conflict, the government said. It ordered the military to boost vigilance in the region, the Russian News Agency reported. “Our national security agencies and military must ramp up their efforts to monitor and provide early warning of military developments in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas, and must continue to strengthen readiness in order to swiftly and effectively respond to any potential developments and ensure our national security,” the statement read. (ANI)
Condemning Russia’s move to recognize regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Nations demanded Moscow to return to the table for negotiations as well as immediate and complete verifiable withdrawal of occupation troops. (ANI)
Ukraine’s lawmakers propose 10-year sanctions on Russian officials for Donbas recognition
Kiev [Ukraine], February 23 (ANI/Sputnik): The Ukrainian parliament adopted on Wednesday a resolution proposing the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) to sanction Russian officials for 10 years over the recognition of the breakaway Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics.
The resolution was supported by 322 lawmakers out of 450.
“The purpose and objectives of the resolution are to provide the prerequisites for the decision of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council on the imposition of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) on persons listed in Annex 1 to the resolution for creating real and/or potential threats to national interests, national security in the information area, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” the resolution read.
The list includes 351 Russian lawmakers and members of the Russian Security Council. These sanctions include cancellation of official visits, meetings, negotiations, introduction of a ban on the purchase of land, assets freeze and other measures. (ANI/Sputnik)
National security council of Ukraine decides to declare emergency state across country
Kiev [Ukraine], February 23 (ANI/Sputnik): The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) has decided to declare a state of emergency across the country, except for the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, NSDC Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said on Wednesday.
“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 added. (ANI/Sputnik)
