Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his countrymen “are not afraid” after Russia moved to recognise the independence of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine and hours later said it would deploy troops there to “maintain peace”.
An urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) took place on the deepening Ukraine crisis as the United States said the announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin was an “unprovoked violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
Western countries have repeatedly warned Moscow not to officially recognise the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic.
Russia has been massing its forces around Ukraine’s borders for weeks, raising concern among the US and other Western governments that it might be planning to invade the country. Moscow has insisted it has no plans to do so.
Here are all the latest updates:
UK says Putin has ‘chosen confrontation over dialogue’
Putin’s actions towards Ukraine show he has chosen confrontation with the West over dialogue, the United Kingdom’s health minister says.
“We’ve always preferred dialogue and still continue to do so but it’s clear from President Putin’s actions that he has chosen confrontation over dialogue,” Sajid Javid told the BBC.
NATO, EU cannot allow violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, Spanish minister says
NATO and…
