Her next moves in the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin to recognize the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk and send Russian troops baptizing the “peacekeepers”, the West plans, responding with sanctions against Moscow.
The first reaction came from Washington with US President Joe Biden signing a presidential decree banning any transaction, new investment, trade financing from the Americans to or from the two breakaway regions.
However, other sanctions packages are expected in the coming hours, with the major powers, the US, France and Germany, in consultation, stressing that Putin’s move can not go unanswered.
The High Representative has already announced that the EU will decide today to impose the first sanctions on Russia.
At the opening of the EU-India-Pacific Cooperation Forum in Paris, he noted that he had convened an “extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council”, which would meet “even here in Paris after the forum”.
“This afternoon the Council will decide on the sanctions that we will adopt (…) we must act quickly and swiftly, this afternoon here in Paris,” he said, adding that sanctions against Russia would be adopted “unanimously”.
At the same time, late last night, the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom Liz Tras announced via Twitter that today London will announce new sanctions against Russia “in response to its violation of international law and the attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”
According to reports, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will chair the Cobra Emergency Response Committee at 6.30 am local time to assess the situation in Ukraine and coordinate the British response to Russian actions. There was talk of a decision to impose “a significant package of sanctions” on Moscow.
It is believed that the sanctions that will be announced for the time being will not be the heaviest that London is preparing. These will be announced in the event of an invasion of Ukraine.
In a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Zelensky at night, Boris Johnson promised both sanctions and more defense support from London to Kiev.
Both Johnson and Ms Trass were among the first to condemn on Monday a “clear violation of international law” and a “blatant attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine” recognizing the independence of Donetsk and Lug. by President Putin.
The UK’s permanent ambassador to the United Nations, Barbara Woodward, warned of far-reaching consequences not only for Ukraine’s international law and sovereignty, but also for the loss of human life. “Russia has brought us to the brink. “We urge Russia to back down,” said Roni Bar-On, a Member of the Knesset for Kadima.
Germany also announced sanctions through the president of the ruling Greens, who spoke of escalating sanctions, stressing that Russia would pay a price that would be clearly less than what it would have to pay if it attacked Kiev.
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