President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian troops into two rebels regions in Ukraine, sparking fears of war. Follow our live coverage.
President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian troops into two rebels regions in eastern Ukraine, sparking fears of war.
Officials in the United States and United Kingdom have described Russia’s move as an “invasion”.
Russia’s actions “are the beginning of the latest Russian invasion of Ukraine,” Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman told the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Major sanctions are expected to be announced by US President Joe Biden.
Germany has announced it is halting certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia.
Follow our live coverage.
Russia’s described as an ‘invasion’
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin described Russia’s military intervention as an “invasion”.
Mr Austin said the “latest invasion” of Ukraine was “threatening the peace and security and prosperity of Ukraine, and of the transatlantic community,” and that the US would impose additional “severe economic costs as events dictate.”
Mr Biden’s deputy national security adviser Jon Finer told CNN, “an invasion is an invasion, and that is what is underway.”
“Russia has been invading Ukraine since 2014 … I am calling it an invasion.”
Major sanctions expected
Britain on Tuesday slapped sanctions on five Russian banks including Rossiya and Promsvyazbank. The EU was expected to release later during the day or on Wednesday its list of institutions hit by asset freezes due to their role in financing Russian military activities. Further sanctions are expected
The UK also plans to impose economic punishments on Russia.
The G7 foreign ministers have agreed to a “strong package of co-ordinated escalatory sanctions” against Russia.
US sanctions against Moscow are expected to be announced today.