Topline
Ukraine announced Wednesday it will impose a nationwide state of emergency and urged its citizens to leave Russia, while Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready for “diplomatic solutions” to the ongoing crisis, moves that come a day after Russia was hit with a flurry of sanctions by the U.S. and its allies for sending troops to two breakaway enclaves in eastern Ukraine.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation on the recognition of independence of the … [+] Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics.
Alexei Nikolsky/TASS
Key Facts
Ukraine’s national security chief Oleksiy Danilov said the emergency will be imposed on all of Ukraine’s territory, apart from the rebel-controlled Donetsk and Luhansk which have been under the order since 2014.
The state of emergency will remain in place for at least 30 days, but may be extended by another 30 days if need arises.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry issued an advisory noting that the “intensification” of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine may cause disruptions to its consular services provided in Russia.
In a televised address on Defender of the Fatherland Day, a public holiday in Russia, Putin said that Moscow was “always open” for “direct and honest dialogue” to tackle complex issues.
The Russian president, however, insisted that Russia’s interests and security remained a non-negotiable issue and it will continue to develop advanced weapons systems and upgrade its military forces.
In a statement that is likely to anger the West, Putin also hailed the professionalism and battle-readiness of the Russian military—which has been deployed in large numbers close to Ukraine’s borders.
Tangent
The Ukrainian military on Wednesday began conscripting reservists aged between 18 and 60, Reuters reported. The drafted reservists will be required to serve for a maximum period of one year. A day earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy issued an order introducing conscription of reservists but stopped short of general mobilization of troops as Russian troops began to move into rebel-controlled eastern Ukraine.
Key Background
On Monday, Putin officially recognized two pro-Russia separatist enclaves—Donetsk and Luhansk—in eastern Ukraine and ordered Russian troops into the region. In an hour-long televised speech, Putin demanded that the Ukrainian government should “immediately cease” military action in the rebel regions. The Russian leader added that any “possible continuation of the bloodbath” will rest solely on Kyiv. Putin also questioned Ukraine’s right to exist as an independent state, claiming that it “never had a tradition of genuine statehood” and was created by Russia. Putin’s actions triggered a barrage of economic sanctions against Russia from the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Japan and several other nations. Additionally, Germany announced that it was suspending the approval of Nord Stream 2—the crucial $11 billion undersea natural gas pipeline connecting Russia to Germany. Russia’s actions also came under intense criticism at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Monday evening.
Further Reading
Russia Sanctions Tracker: ‘First Barrage’ Of Penalties Announced By Europe, U.K., U.S. (Forbes)
UN Security Council Members Blast Russia After Putin Orders Troops Into Eastern Ukraine (Forbes)
