The US government could dramatically tighten its new sanctions against Russia, according to a senior White House official. The financial sanctions against two Russian state banks, which together have total assets of around 85 billion US dollars, are just the beginning, the official says, according to the dpa. If Russia continues to take action against Ukraine, “no Russian financial institution is safe”.
+++ 23:38 USA move fighter jets and helicopters to Eastern Europe +++
In response to the Russian action against Ukraine, the US forces are relocating fighter jets and combat helicopters stationed in Germany to Eastern Europe. According to a US defense representative, up to eight F-35 fighter jets are to be relocated from Germany to locations “along NATO’s eastern flank”. In addition, 20 US AH-64 attack helicopters stationed in Germany would be brought to the Baltic States. In addition, around 800 US soldiers from an infantry battalion will be sent from Italy to the Baltic States, while 12 more AH-64 helicopters will be deployed from Greece to Poland. The AFP news agency quoted the unnamed source as saying that the transfers were intended to “calm down our NATO allies” and prevent “any potential aggression against NATO member states”.
+++ 10:58 p.m. US Secretary of State Blinken cancels meeting with Lavrov
In view of the recent escalation by Moscow, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled a planned meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. In view of Moscow’s actions, there is no point in holding on to the talks originally scheduled for Thursday in Geneva, Blinken said in Washington.
+++ 22:54 Selenskyj announces partial mobilization of reservists +++
Against the background of the threat from Russia, the Ukrainian President Zelenskyj announced a partial mobilization of reservists, but ruled out a general mobilization. “We have to operationally replenish the army and other military formations,” he says. He also announces a meeting with the 150 most important entrepreneurs and urges all business people to stay in the country.
+++ 22:30 EU sanctions come into force on Wednesday +++
According to the current EU Council Presidency, the new EU sanctions against Russia are to come into force as early as this Wednesday. The French Presidency announced that the technical and legal reviews that were still necessary would take place overnight.
+++ 21:55 Sigmar Gabriel supports stop for Nord Stream 2 +++
Ex-Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said directly on the RTL program: “Anyone who plays with war in Europe and invades a country armed has to pay a price.” The stop of Nord Stream 2 also has consequences for Germany. “I don’t think anyone should delude themselves, we already have high energy prices, that will affect us too, but we have to show what peace in Europe means to us and I think we shouldn’t shy away from that! “
+++ 21:35 report: Russian diplomats burn files before leaving Ukraine +++Footage has been circulating on social media purporting to show staff at the Russian embassy in Kiev and the Russian consulate in Odessa burning things, possibly files. Also the Ukrainian channel TSN reported about it, but also only with reference to reports from local residents and journalists in social networks.
The Russian Foreign Ministry had previously announced that it would withdraw its diplomatic staff from the neighboring country. According to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow, the Russian representations in Ukraine would be evacuated “promptly” to protect “the life and safety” of the diplomats. Russian diplomats in Ukraine have received threats, and there have been “repeated attacks” on the Russian embassy in Kiev and consulates in other cities. “Ukraine is in deep chaos.”
+++ 21:11 EU has not yet imposed any sanctions on Putin +++
For the time being, no EU sanctions will be imposed on Vladimir Putin personally, despite his responsibility for the recent escalation against Ukraine. “Mr. Putin is not on the list of those sanctioned,” confirmed EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell after a special meeting of EU foreign ministers in Paris. The decision was made because there was a need to have further measures in reserve.
+++ 20:59 Biden: We don’t want to fight Russia +++
Biden announces that the US will continue to support Ukraine with defensive weapons. In addition, US troops would be reinforced in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. “Let me be clear, these are entirely defensive operations on our part. We have no intention of fighting Russia.” Together with the allies, however, the USA wanted to send out a clear message “that we will defend every inch of NATO territory”.
+++ 20:45 Biden “still open to diplomacy” +++
The US President is still open to a diplomatic solution. “We will judge Russia by its actions and not by its words,” he says. “The United States and our allies and partners remain open to diplomacy. If it’s serious.” Biden does not say whether he is ready to meet Putin. He agreed to a possible meeting over the weekend on the condition that Russia does not invade Ukraine.
+++ 20:33 Biden announces sanctions against the Russian financial sector +++
Biden said the punitive measures would target two major banks, Russian government bond traders and supporters of the Russian president. “They share in the Kremlin’s corrupt policies and they should share in the punishment.”
One goal is to make it more difficult for the Russian state to take on debt. The sanctions would also hurt the US, says Biden. “Defending freedom will also cost us something. We have to say that openly.” He will take precautions to ensure that the consequences for the US economy and US citizens are as small as possible.
+++ 20:26 Biden: That was the beginning of a Russian invasion +++
“This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine,” Biden said in the White House. “Who in God’s name does Putin think gives him the right to recognize so-called new ‘lands’ on territory owned by his neighbor?” The US President announces the first sanctions against Russia, which have been closely coordinated with the allies. If Russia continues, there will be more sanctions. He continues to believe that Russia is planning a broad-based operation against Ukraine, Biden said. “I hope I’m wrong.”
+++ 20:19 Russia establishes diplomatic relations with “People’s Republics” +++
After recognizing the “People’s Republics” in eastern Ukraine, Russia is establishing diplomatic relations with the regions. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Russia intends to expand cooperation with the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The aim is “peace, stability in the region and strengthening security”.
+++ 19:50 Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution warns of cyber attacks from Russia +++
In view of the current tensions with Russia, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution warns of massive Russian cyber attacks on German targets. The authorities for the protection of the constitution in the federal states had therefore already “strongly” recommended last week to strengthen protective measures in their own IT infrastructure as part of economic protection, says the President of the Thuringian Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Stephan Kramer, the “Handelsblatt”.
+++ 19:23 reporter reports on explosions in eastern Ukraine +++
In Luhansk and Donetsk, pro-Europeans have been fighting pro-Russians for years. Now, soldiers say, military support from Russia is official, otherwise not much has changed, reports ntv reporter Kavita Sharma from a village right on the front line.
+++ 18:56 Scholz accuses Putin of breaking international law +++
Chancellor Scholz accuses Russian President Putin of violating international law. The situation “was serious and is serious,” he says RTL. Putin’s actions endanger the state sovereignty of Ukraine. “If everyone in Europe starts leafing through history books where borders used to be, then we have a very unsettling time ahead of us,” said Scholz. Putin had apparently been preparing his project for a long time, as you can see now.
“We are also in a position to decide on further sanctions if something that cannot be ruled out in view of the military build-up happens, namely that there will actually be a complete military invasion of Ukraine by Russia,” says Scholz, referring to one possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.
+++ 18:50 EU wants to make it “as difficult as possible for the Kremlin to finance its aggressive policy” +++
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called Putin’s decision to recognize the rebel areas of Luhansk and Donetsk “illegitimate and unacceptable”. Russia caused the crisis and is responsible for the escalation. The EU sanctions package is “a clear response to the Kremlin’s renewed violations of the law”. They want to make it “as difficult as possible for the Kremlin to finance its aggressive policies.”
+++ 18:39 Russia evacuates embassy in Kiev +++
Russia wants to withdraw its embassy staff from the Ukrainian capital “in the near future”. This is reported by the Russian agency Ria Novosti. Protecting the life and safety of embassy staff is the top priority, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. What is meant are alleged threats from Ukraine, for which there is no evidence in reality.
+++ 18:18 Foreign Ministers of the EU countries agree to sanctions against Russia +++
The EU imposes new sanctions on Russia. At a special meeting in Paris, the foreign ministers of the 27 member states agree to a corresponding proposal from the EU Commission and the foreign service. The punitive measures are expected to come into force later this week after the technical preparations have been completed.
+++ 17:58 Putin makes demands on Ukraine +++
Putin is demanding partial demilitarization of Ukraine, renunciation of NATO membership and recognition of Crimea as Russian. He declares the Minsk Agreement, which was the basis for the peace process for eastern Ukraine, to be over. The differences between Kiev and the separatists must be settled in negotiations. At the same time, Putin admits that this is currently impossible.
He then claims that Ukraine is aiming for nuclear armament. Putin dodges the question of whether he will send Russian troops to the separatist areas: He did not say that he would send the troops “immediately” after this press conference.
+++ 17:44 Putin is about more than the rebel areas +++
In a press conference in the Kremlin, Putin says that Russia recognizes the “people’s republics” of Luhansk and Donetsk within the borders that they describe in their constitutions. These are the borders of the Luhansk and Donetsk districts, which are significantly larger than the rebel region in eastern Ukraine. Russia is thus supporting a separatist claim to an area currently controlled by the Ukrainian army.
+++ 17:37 NATO warns of a major attack on Ukraine +++
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warns of a “large-scale attack” by Russia on Ukraine. The military alliance is observing a continued Russian troop buildup and preparations for such an attack, Stoltenberg said after a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Committee in Brussels. It is the most dangerous situation for Europe in a generation.
+++ 17:31 White House announces statement by Biden +++
US President Joe Biden wants to comment on the conflict with Russia today at 7:00 p.m. CET, the White House announced. The US government had previously announced that it would announce further measures against Russia on Tuesday.
You can read about previous developments here.