Major escalation in tension between Ukraine and Russia

Ukraine crisis live news: Putin claim that Russian troops are ‘peacekeepers’ is nonsense, US tells UN security council
Russian president has recognised Luhansk and Donetsk regions as independent states: Zelenskiy says ‘we are not afraid’. Follow the latest updates
Zelenskiy rules out making any territorial concessions, calls for peace
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy gave a televised address in the early hours of Tuesday morning, Ukraine time, ruling out any territorial concessions and calling for peace.

Zelenskiy’s remarks followed a tumultuous day in which Russia appeared to be moving closer to an invasion, with Vladimir Putin recognising two Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine as independent and ordering forces to the region.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine was committed to peace and diplomacy while describing the actions of the Russian federation as a violation of Ukraine’s integrity and sovereignty.

The Kyiv Independent news outlet reports Zelenskiy as saying:

We are dedicated to the peaceful and diplomatic path. We are on our land. We are not afraid of anything and anyone, we don’t owe anything to anyone, we will not concede anything to anyone.

It’s not February 2014, but February 2022. It’s a different country. There’s a different army. There’s a single goal: peace.

He added Ukraine is expecting “clear and effective” steps from its allies to act against Russia while calling for an emergency summit of the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France.

Zelenskiy also accused Russia of wrecking peace talks and ruled out making any territorial concessions, Reuters reports.

The United Nations security council has scheduled an emergency meeting for Monday night and the US has moved to impose sanctions against Russia.
Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian troops to “maintain peace” in two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, hours after the Russian president recognized Donetsk and Luhansk as independent entities.

In two official decrees, Putin on Monday instructed the country’s defence ministry to assume “the function of maintaining peace” in the eastern regions.
In an earlier televised address, Putin said he had deemed “it necessary to make a decision that should have been made a long time ago – to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic”.

The West has repeatedly warned Russia not to recognise the separatist regions in Donetsk and Luhansk – a move that effectively buries a fragile peace process in the region.

Putin’s announcement paved the way for Russia to openly send troops and weapons to the long-running conflict pitting Ukrainian forces against Moscow-backed rebels.