[Summary] "Invasion Opening Fire" US, EU, UK Successively Condemn Russia... Immediate Sanctions Imposed

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on the 21st (local time) in Moscow the recognition of independence for the self-proclaimed republics formed by pro-Russian separatists in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] "The invasion has begun."

On the 21st (local time), Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the independence of the pro-Russian separatist-controlled areas in eastern Ukraine's Donbas and ordered Russian troops to enter. In response, the United States and other Western countries strongly condemned the move. Following the immediate sanctions announced by the U.S., Western countries are continuously imposing sanctions to block Russia's actions.

With Russia's military invasion effectively underway, the possibility of a military clash with the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) cannot be ruled out in the near future.

◇ US Immediately Imposes Sanctions Following Russia's Announcement

U.S. President Joe Biden issued an executive order imposing sanctions on the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), formed by pro-Russian separatists in Donbas, on the afternoon of the same day.

This is effectively the first sanction measure taken by the U.S. since the conflict around the Ukrainian border region began. The order bans new U.S. investments, trade, and financial transactions in these regions and includes authority to sanction individuals. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated, "We anticipated Russia's move and are prepared to respond," adding, "We will announce additional measures regarding Russia's violation of international agreements."

Additional sanctions are expected to be announced on the 22nd. However, Psaki clarified that these are separate from the economic measures the U.S. and its allies have been discussing in preparation for a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine. A U.S. official mentioned, "We will closely monitor what they (Russia) do over the next few hours and adjust the intensity of our response accordingly."

It is not only the U.S. Various countries, having obtained information that Russian troops are moving into Ukrainian rebel areas, have convened emergency meetings and are preparing countermeasures such as sanctions. According to U.S. CNN and the British daily The Guardian, footage has been confirmed showing military vehicles presumed to be Russian moving near Donetsk that night.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will hold an emergency security meeting starting at 6:30 a.m. on the 22nd to finalize the immediate implementation of a sanctions package. French President Emmanuel Macron called for European Union (EU)-level sanctions. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Charles Michel, President of the European Council, also condemned Russia's decision in a joint statement, calling it a "blatant violation of international law and the Minsk agreements."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized in an emergency speech that "an emergency Normandy Four meeting has been convened," and stated, "We are awaiting clear and effective measures from our (Western) partners." The United Nations (UN) Security Council will hold an open emergency meeting at the UN headquarters in New York that night.

◇ Biden-Putin Summit Likely to Be Canceled

President Putin's decision on the day further narrows the diplomatic options surrounding Ukraine. A senior U.S. official said the possibility of the U.S.-Russia summit, which was being pursued through mediation by President Macron the previous day, taking place as scheduled is low.

While diplomatic intervention between the two leaders still remains possible, the official assessed, "Information suggesting further Russian military actions is continuously being reported, which is obstructing the summit." This indicates that the precondition set by President Biden for the U.S.-Russia summit?that Ukraine remain inviolable?has been broken. Another senior U.S. official also predicted, "Now President Putin may launch a broader invasion under the pretext of protecting Ukraine."

U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order on the 21st (local time) at the White House prohibiting new American investments, trade, and financial transactions in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) regions, established by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine's Donbas. [Provided by the White House] [Image source=Yonhap News]

Some analysts interpret President Putin's bold move to order entry into Ukraine as a card to maximize his negotiating power ahead of talks with President Biden. The New York Times (NYT) described it as "Putin's high-intensity strategy threatening to embroil Ukraine in military conflict and sharply escalate tensions between Russia and the West." Politico reported that "Putin has made it clear that he wants to redraw the post-Cold War security map."

Currently, Russia is steadfast in its demands for NATO to halt eastward expansion, prohibit Ukraine's NATO membership, and reduce Western military presence in Eastern Europe. The U.S. and the EU have not accepted any of these demands.

Meanwhile, in a speech on state television, President Putin harshly criticized Ukraine as "a puppet regime and a colony of the United States," signed a decree approving the independence of the self-proclaimed republics declared by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, and ordered the deployment of 'peacekeeping forces' to the region, officially authorizing the stationing of Russian troops within Ukrainian territory.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.