President Putin Recognizes Independence Of Donetsk And Lugansk, US And European Union Are Busy Preparing New Sanctions

Signing of the recognition of the Republic of Donetsk and Lugansk in the Kremlin by President Putin. (Source Kremlin.ru)

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine as independent territories on Monday, ordering Russian troops to launch what Moscow calls a peacekeeping operation into the region, accelerating a crisis the West fears could spark a major war.

"I consider it necessary to make a decision that should have been made a long time ago, to immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic," President Putin said.

In his decision, President Putin dismissed Western warnings that such a move would be illegal, stifling peace negotiations and triggering sanctions.

Responding to this recognition, the President of the United States to the Secretary-General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg regretted Russia's move, saying it would spark another conflict in the region, and said he would prepare separate new sanctions.

President Biden will soon issue an executive order barring "new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons into, from, or in" the two breakaway territories, the White House said.

It will also grant the authority to impose sanctions on anyone determined to operate in the Ukrainian territory, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.

The signing of the recognition of the Republic of Donetsk and Lugansk in the Kremlin by President Putin. (Source Kremlin.ru)

Psaki said the measures launched in response to Putin's decision were separate from sanctions the United States and its allies had prepared if Russia invaded Ukraine.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the executive order was "designed to prevent Russia from taking advantage of this flagrant violation of international law."

The UN Security Council will meet publicly in Ukraine at 9 p.m. local time, a Russian diplomat said, following requests from the United States, Britain, and France.

Meanwhile, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said European Union countries had agreed to impose a limited set of sanctions, "targeting those responsible" for Russia's recognition of rebel territory.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in a post on Twitter that on Tuesday the government would announce new sanctions against Russia in response to Putin's decision.

Separately, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg accused Russia of continuing to foment conflict in eastern Ukraine and of "trying to make pretexts" for a further invasion.

To note, President Putin told Russia's Defense Ministry to deploy troops to the two regions to maintain peace, in a decree issued shortly after announcing recognition for Russia-backed separatists there, drawing criticism from the United States and Europe with threats of new sanctions.

There was no word on the number of forces President Putin sent, but the decree said Russia now had the right to establish military bases in the breakaway region. Meanwhile, the mission of the troops is to establish peace.

However, this move would narrow down diplomatic options for avoiding war, as it constitutes an explicit rejection of a seven-year truce mediated by France and Germany, which was touted as a framework for future negotiations on the broader crisis.