NEW YORK (1010 WINS/AP) -- Tensions are rapidly escalating in Ukraine after weeks of Russian troop build-up and military exercises on the Ukrainian border. The U.S. has been warning of an imminent invasion. President Joe Biden claims President Vladimir Putin will target the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, though most of the build-up has been focused on the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, where sustained shelling continued this week.
Monday, Feb. 21, 2022
5:25 P.M.: The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin is ordering forces to maintain peace in eastern Ukraine. But it is not immediately clear whether or when troops would enter the country.
The announcement follows a day of fast-moving developments in which Putin announced the recognition of separatist regions in Ukraine. The United States and the European Union responded by saying they would impose sanctions.
4:00 P.M.: The White House says President Joe Biden is ordering new sanctions on Moscow after Russia moved to recognize separatist eastern Ukraine regions.
The Biden administration calls Monday’s announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin a “blatant violation of Russia’s international commitments.”
The sanctions will prohibit new investment, trade and financing in the two separatist regions of Ukraine recognized by Putin.The European Union’s top officials have also said the bloc will impose sanctions.
3:15 P.M.: Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine—the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics—and paved the way to provide them military support in a direct challenge to the West that will fuel fears that Russia could imminently invade its neighbor.
The carefully staged move announced in the Kremlin could lead to new sanctions on Russia and flies in the face of European efforts for a diplomatic solution to the escalating crisis, which has brought East-West relations to a new low and jeopardized trade. Britain’s prime minister called it a “breach of international law.”
Putin justified his decision in a far-reaching, pre-recorded speech Monday night Moscow time, blaming NATO for the current crisis and calling the U.S.-led alliance an existential threat to Russia.
Sweeping through more than a century of history, Putin painted today’s Ukraine as a modern construct that is inextricably linked to Russia. He charged that Ukraine had inherited Russia’s historic lands and after the Soviet collapse was used by the West to contain Russia.
“As for those who captured and is holding on to power in Kyiv, we demand that they immediately cease military action,” Putin said of the Ukrainian capital at the end of his speech, according to the New York Times. “If not, the complete responsibility for the possibility of a continuation of bloodshed will be fully and wholly on the conscience of the regime ruling the territory of Ukraine.”
Ukrainian authorities have denied launching an offensive and have accused Russia of provocation amid sustained shelling in the separatist areas.
After his speech, Putin signed decrees in the Kremlin recognizing those regions' independence and called on lawmakers to approve measures paving the way for military support.
According to the Kremlin, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron voiced “disappointment with such a development” but also “readiness to continue contacts.”
1:45 P.M.: The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin will formally recognize the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine—a move that will further ratchet up tensions with the West amid fears that Moscow could launch an invasion of Ukraine imminently.
Putin, who had said he’d decide by the end of the day if he’d recognize the regions, was expected to deliver an address to Russia Monday, according to the New York Times.
Western leaders fear Moscow could use the move to openly send its troops and weapons to the two regions, Donetsk and Luhansk.
Russian-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian troops in the breakaway regions since 2014.
Until now, Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of supporting the separatists, but Moscow has denied that, saying that Russians who fought there were volunteers.
At a Security Council meeting Monday, Putin's top defense and security officials paraded before him one by one to outline arguments for recognizing the regions as independent to protect civilians there. At one point, one slipped up and said he favored including them as part of Russian territory — but Putin quickly corrected him.
European leaders had urged Putin to resist recognition, and the EU foreign policy chief threatened possible sanctions if he did. Ukraine's president convened an emergency meeting of top security officials.
11:30 A.M.: White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan had a dire warning Monday, saying a Russian attack on Ukraine could happen at any time and that a diplomatic solution to the crisis “is diminishing hour by hour.”
“All signs look like President Putin and the Russians are proceeding with a plan to execute a major military invasion of Ukraine,” Sullivan told ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
“We have seen just in the last 24 hours further moves of Russian units to the border with no other good explanation other than they're getting into position to attack,” Sullivan said. “We couldn't predict the exact time or day, but it certainly looks like the Russians are proceeding.”
As global leaders scramble for a path to diplomacy, Sullivan said, “The likelihood that there’s a diplomatic solution, given the movements, the troop movements of the Russians, is diminishing hour by hour.”
Nevertheless, Sullivan said the U.S. is committed to diplomacy up until the moment a potential invasion begins.
“President Biden has made clear all along throughout this entire crisis that he is prepared either way,” Sullivan said. “He is prepared to engage in high-level diplomacy to resolve this peacefully, and he's equally prepared to rally our allies and partners to impose cost and consequences on Russia should they to choose to invade.”
Amid talk of a possible summit involving Biden and Putin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday that the U.S. and Russian presidents could meet if they consider it “feasible,” but he emphasized that “it’s premature to talk about specific plans for a summit.”
10:00 A.M.: Russian President Vladimir Putin convened top officials Monday to consider recognizing the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, a move that would ratchet up tensions with the West amid fears that the Kremlin could launch an invasion of Ukraine imminently.
The meeting of the presidential Security Council comes amid a spike in skirmishes in eastern Ukraine that Western powers believe Russia could use as a pretext for an attack. Sustained shelling continued Monday in the long-running conflict between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Moscow separatists.
Leaders of the separatist regions released televised statements earlier Monday pleading with Putin to recognize them as independent states and sign friendship treaties envisaging military aid to protect them from what they described as an ongoing Ukrainian military offensive. Russia’s lower house of parliament made the same plea last week.
Ukrainian authorities deny launching an offensive and accuse Russia of provocation amid intensifying shelling along the line of contact that separates the two sides.
The Kremlin initially signaled its reluctance to recognize the regions as independent, arguing that would effectively shatter a 2015 peace deal for eastern Ukraine that marked a major diplomatic coup for Moscow, requiring Ukrainian authorities to offer a broad self-rule to the rebel regions. But Putin argued Monday that Ukrainian authorities have shown no appetite for implementing the deal.
The meeting comes after the U.S. and Russian presidents tentatively agreed to meet in a last-ditch effort to stave off a possible invasion of Ukraine.
8:30 A.M.: The Kremlin said Monday that there are currently no "concrete plans" for a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden, a day after the French president said the two leaders had agreed in “principle” to a summit.
Tensions remained at a boiling point Monday, with sustained shelling continuing in a conflict in eastern Ukraine that Western powers fear could provide the spark for a broader war.
“It’s clear that tensions are rising,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. “It’s too early to talk about concrete plans for organizing any summits.”
Peskov also said that Putin will hold an unscheduled meeting of his Security Council on Monday, according to the New York Times.
With the prospect of war looming, French President Emmanuel Macron had scrambled Sunday to broker a meeting between Biden and Putin. Macron reportedly had a second call with Putin at 1 a.m. Moscow time on Monday.
Macron's office said Sunday that both leaders had “accepted the principle of such a summit,” to be followed by a broader meeting that would include other “relevant stakeholders to discuss security and strategic stability in Europe.”
The language from Moscow and Washington was more cautious, but neither side denied that a meeting is under discussion. If Russia invades, as the U.S. warns Moscow has already decided to do, the meeting will be off.
7:30 A.M.: In a letter to the United Nations, the United States said it has “credible information” that Russian forces are “creating lists of identified Ukrainians to be killed or sent to camps” following a military occupation.
In a letter obtained by the New York Times, U.S. ambassador Bathsheba Nell Crocker wrote to Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights: “I would like to bring to your attention disturbing information recently obtained by the United States that indicates that human rights violations and abuses in the aftermath of a further invasion are being planned.”
Crocker continued: “These acts, which in past Russian operations have included targeted killings, kidnappings/forced disappearances, unjust detentions, and the use of torture, would likely target those who oppose Russian actions, including Russian and Belarusian dissidents in exile in Ukraine, journalists and anti-corruption activists, and vulnerable populations such as religious and ethnic minorities and LGBTQI+ persons.”
“We also have credible information that Russian forces will likely use lethal measures to disperse peaceful protests or otherwise counter peaceful exercises of perceived resistance from civilian populations,” Crocker said.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised the concerns to the U.N. Security Council last Thursday.
Three U.S. officials confirmed the letter to the Times.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitri S. Peskov told reporters, “This is absolutely made up.”
“There is no such list. This is a fake,” Peskov said.
12 A.M.: The U.S. and Russian presidents have tentatively agreed to meet in a last-ditch diplomatic effort to stave off Moscow's invasion of Ukraine as heavy shelling continued Monday in a conflict in eastern Ukraine that is feared will spark the Russian offensive.
French President Emmanuel Macron sought to broker a possible meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a series of phone calls that dragged into the night.
Macron's office said both leaders had “accepted the principle of such a summit,” to be followed by a broader summit meeting also involving other “relevant stakeholders to discuss security and strategic stability in Europe.” It added that the meetings “can only be held on the condition that Russia does not invade Ukraine.”
White House press secretary Jen Psaki, said the administration has been clear that “we are committed to pursuing diplomacy until the moment an invasion begins.” She noted that “currently, Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine very soon.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Putin and Biden could meet if they consider it necessary, but emphasized that “it’s premature to talk about specific plans for a summit.”
“The meeting is possible if the leaders consider it feasible,” he said in a conference call with reporters.
Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022
5:28 P.M.: The Ukrainian military accused separatists from the self-declared Luhansk People's Republic of firing artillery at their own territory in order to blame Ukraine for the attacks.
Russia-aligned members of the LPR and the Donetsk People's Republic, two self-declared pseudo-states in Eastern Ukraine, have been accusing Ukraine of shelling their territory and killing civilians. Both groups have been evacuating civilians into Russia.
2:45 P.M.: Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said talk of an imminent Russian invasion is inappropriate, contradicting American claims that Russian commanders have already been given orders to invade.
"As of this hour, the strike group of the Russian Federation has not yet been formed in any place where they surrounded Ukraine. Therefore, to say that there will be an attack the day after tomorrow is inappropriate in my opinion," said Reznikov. "But that doesn't mean there are low risks, it doesn't mean there is no threat. "
The Russian Duma, one house of Russia's legislative assembly, plans to discuss the conflict in Ukraine on Tuesday. Reznikov indicated Ukraine would closely monitor that session.
11:53 A.M.: The United States claims to have intelligence that Russian commanders have orders to invade Ukraine, though officials have not provided evidence or specified how they know this to be true.
10:15 A.M.: Heavy shelling took place throughout Saturday in Eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine's defense ministry reported over 100 ceasefire violations on Saturday. Ukraine's estimate is likely an undercount, considering the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE), a United Nations-approved international observer, reported over 1,500 ceasefire violations over the course of 24-hours.
The self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic and Donetsk People's Republic, two Russia-aligned rebel groups in Eastern Ukraine, reported attacks by Ukrainian forces that caused civilian casualties.
Meanwhile, on the diplomatic front, Turkey implied it could close the straits that connect the Black Sea to the Mediterranean if Russia invades. Those straits are a key shipping lane for Russia. France's Emmanuel Macron is the latest world leader to meet with Putin an attempt to prevent war.
The United States continued to sound alarms that Russia is planning to invade, though Secretary of State Antony Blinken said there is still a chance war could be averted.
Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022
5:15 P.M.: Speaking at a security conference in Germany, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Russia plans to encircle the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, rather than carry out more limited operations in Eastern Ukraine.
"People need to understand the sheer cost in human life that could entail," he said.
He threatened severe sanctions if Russia invades.
2:34 P.M.: Foreign ministers from every G7 nation — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America — called on Russia to move troops away from the border and de-escalate the situation in Ukraine.
"We call on Russia to choose the path of diplomacy, to de-escalate tensions, to substantively withdraw military forces from the proximity of Ukraine’s borders and to fully abide by international commitments including on risk reduction and transparency of military activities," said the nations in a joint press release. "As a first step, we expect Russia to implement the announced reduction of its military activities along Ukraine’s borders."
1:10 P.M.: New photos released of shells fired across the Donbas border into Russia's Rostov-on-Don region. Shelling by Russian back separatists into Ukraine yesterday escalated tensions.
12:51 P.M.: Ukrainian pro-Russian separatist leader Denis Pushilin starts mass mobilization of troops in Donetsk region of Ukraine. Several conflicting reports circulated Friday about possible explosions in the region. The rebels have been evacuating civilians into Russia in the past few days.
12:42 P.M.: Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky calls on potential sanctions on Russia for an invasion to be made explicit and public
“The question of just making it public ... just the list of sanctions, for them, for us, to know what will happen if they start the war," Zelensky told CNN.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.