UN Security Council Members Blast Russia After Putin Orders Troops Into Eastern Ukraine

The new date is Feb 22, 2022, 03:14am.

Several members of the UN Security Council condemned Russia's moves to escalate its crisis with Ukraine, after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized two regions in eastern Ukraine as independent.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, warned that Putin was trying to create a pretext for a further invasion of Ukraine.

The U.K. will announce a set of new sanctions against Russia, Barbara Woodward said.

Ukrainian ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya, who requested the emergency meeting, delivered a defiant statement that Ukraine was not afraid of anything or anyone and would not give away anything to anyone.

Despite its close relationship with Russia, China made a terse statement at the meeting saying that all parties must exercise restraint and avoid any action that may fuel tensions.

Russian actions are part of a trend of powerful nations breaching international laws, according to the ambassador.

India's representative to the UN was more guarded in his comments, but stopped short of condemning Russia.

Russia's ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya called the criticism emotional and said it was important to focus on how to avoid war. Nebenzya accused the U.S. and its allies of ramming weapons into Ukraine and said that Russia will do the same.

According to a White House official, Putin's decision to send troops into eastern Ukraine won't lead to broader sanctions against Russia. The White House believes that a full invasion of Ukraine is still imminent despite the fact that these actions by Russia are not being viewed as an invasion by Washington. President Joe Biden will impose economic sanctions on the two regions that Putin recognized as independent, despite the fact that the U.S. will continue to pursue a diplomatic solution with Russia. According to the New York Times, the limited direct action against Russia is intended to allow the U.S. and its allies to hold back more stringent sanctions in the event of a diplomatic solution to the problem.

Key Background

Putin ordered Russian troops into eastern Ukraine on Monday after formally recognizing two pro-Russia rebel states. Putin demanded that the Ukrainian government cease military action in the rebel regions. The Russian leader said that any possible continuation of the bloodbath will be limited to Kyiv. Putin questioned the right of Ukraine to exist as an independent state because it never had a tradition of statehood. In a televised statement early Tuesday, the President of Ukraine said that his country was not afraid.

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Several members of the UN Security Council condemned the Russian move.