Putin ups his ante with threat to send troops to Donetsk and Lugansk

The President of Russia, Vladimir Putinupped its ante in the crisis around Ukraine with the threat of sending troops to the newly recognized self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, whose leaders agreed today to describe the situation in the east of the country as “critical”.

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“At the moment there are no Russian troops here. But in case of Ukrainian aggression this is possible. The documents we signed allow us to apply for this aid,” Denis Pushilin, the leader of the Donetsk pro-Russians, said today at a press conference, quoted by the Interfax agency.

This Tuesday, the Federation Council (Senate) of Russia gave carte blanche to Putin to openly intervene in the conflict in eastern Ukraine by authorizing the use of the armed forces outside the borders of Russia.

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THE BORDERS, POSSIBLE DETONATOR OF THE WAR

The head of the Kremlin specified that the recognition of the independence of the self-proclaimed separatist republics includes that of their constitutions and their borders contained in them, which are those of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, most of which are under control of Kiev.

“The situation is such that the enlargement of the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics to their historical borders can be resolved by itself, but we would prefer it to be by peaceful means,” Pushilin said.

The pro-Russian leader assured that at the moment the self-proclaimed People’s Republic of Donetsk does not consider this task.

“We are not at that stage yet. We are at a stage where the enemy’s troops are in the line of contact and can go on the offensive at any moment. We haven’t figured this out yet,” he explained.

CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS

Both the pro-Russians in Donetsk and Lugansk today denounced an intensification of attacks against the towns they control.

According to Pushilin, for the first time in a long time the city of Donetsk was hit by GRAD rockets.

“Apparently it is the reaction to the recognition of our independence,” he said.

In turn, representatives of the pro-Russian in Lugansk accused the Ukrainian Army of attacking 12 towns with artillery.

The Kiev authorities were no less and held the separatists responsible for the violations of the ceasefire, which have increased considerably in recent days.

RUSSIA EVACUATES ITS DIPLOMATIC STAFF FROM UKRAINE

To the tensions in the lines of separation of forces were added worrying signs in the diplomatic sphere between Moscow and Kiev.

Russia today began the evacuation of the personnel of all its diplomatic representations in Ukraine, a decision that it argued with the need to guarantee its security.

The beginning of the evacuation of Russian diplomats came shortly after the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry earlier today urged its citizens to leave the territory of Russia.

Kiev considers that in the current circumstance of military tensions with Russia, its ability to provide consular assistance in that country to the Ukrainians may be limited.

MOSCOW WARNS THAT IT WILL RESPOND HARDERLY TO THE SANCTIONS

The Russian recognition of the independence of the pro-Russian entities in eastern Ukraine has led to a shower of condemnations and new economic sanctions against Moscow, some of great impact, such as those affecting the Russian financial system or the suspension of the certification of the Nord Stream gas pipeline. two.

The Russian Ministry of Finance affirmed today that it is closely monitoring the situation in the markets after the sanctions imposed by the US on transactions with Russian sovereign bonds, and that, if necessary, it will take the necessary measures together with the Central Bank to maintain stability. financial.

Russian diplomacy in turn especially warned the White House, which it accused of trying to contain Russia’s development, that the sanctions will have a “strong response, not necessarily symmetrical, but calculated and sensitive for the US side,” according to a statement of Russian diplomacy.

At the same time, the Foreign Ministry noted that Russia is open to dialogue as long as it is based on the principles of respect and equality.

Despite Western sanctions, Putin’s decision to recognize the independence of Donetsk and Lugansk has not diminished the population’s support for this measure.

According to a survey carried out by the VTsIOM, a demoscopic study center dependent on the Russian Government, 73% of Russians support Putin’s decision to recognize the independence of the pro-Russians and only 16% do not support it.

PUTIN SAYS RUSSIA HAD NO CHOICE

The Russian president today justified his decision before his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In a phone call, Putin told him that the recognition of the independence of Donetsk and Lugansk was an “objective necessity.”

He insisted that it was a decision motivated by “Ukrainian aggression” and Kiev’s failure to comply with the agreements for the settlement of the conflict in Donbas.

In addition, the Russian president complained that the United States and NATO ignore Moscow’s “concerns and legitimate demands” regarding security guarantees, since Russia demands that NATO not expand further east and not thereby incorporate Ukraine into its fold.

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Source: Elcomercio

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