Countries Set To Sanction Russia After Putin Recognizes Two Ukraine Breakaway Regions

The United States and its European allies have announced new sanctions against Russia on Tuesday after President Vladimir Putin formally recognized two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, escalating a security crisis on the continent.

Britain and Germany also announced measures against Russia on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the U.K. government would begin imposing fresh sanctions on Russian banks and individuals following Putin’s decision to recognize the separatist regions as independent.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has suspended the certification process for the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline in response to the Russian president’s decree, which the West fears signals that a full-scale invasion of Ukraine is next.

The undersea pipeline directly links Russian gas to Europe via Germany and is complete but not yet operating. It has become a major target as Western governments try to exert leverage on Russia to deter further military moves against its neighbour.

The undersea pipeline directly links Russian gas to Europe via Germany and is complete but not yet operating. It has become a major target as Western governments try to exert leverage on Russia to deter further military moves against its neighbour.

France has also agreed to respond with sanctions, while the United States is expected to announce further measures on Tuesday.

Johnson told the U.K. Parliament that Russia’s actions amounted to “a renewed invasion” of Ukraine and said Putin was “establishing the pretext for a full-scale offensive.”

In his speech, he announced sanctions against five Russian banks — Rossiya, IS Bank, General Bank, Promsvyazbank and the Black Sea Bank — as well as sanctions against three wealthy Russian businessmen, Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg and Igor Rotenberg, freezing their assets and banning them from traveling to or trading in the U.K.

Johnson called the fresh sanctions the “first barrage of what we are prepared to do” and said more sanctions were being prepared by Britain, the European Union, and the U.S. if the situation escalates further.

“The United States will impose sanctions on Russia for this clear violation of international law and Ukraine sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters after an emergency meeting of the Security Council late on Monday.

“We can, will, and must stand united in our calls for Russia to withdraw its forces, return to the diplomatic table and work toward peace.”

China called for all parties to exercise restraint, while Japan said it was ready to join international sanctions on Moscow in the event of a full-scale invasion.

The Russian UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, warned Western powers to “think twice” and not worsen the situation.

Meanwhile, a top European Union official said Russia’s recognition of the Ukrainian separatist regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states and its decision to send troops into the territories is an “act of war.”

Didier Reynders, the European Commissioner for Justice, said Tuesday the 27-nation bloc is ready to implement sanctions against Russia.

Speaking to Belgian broadcaster RTBF, Reynders said a unanimous accord from EU member countries is needed for new sanctions to be imposed.

He said the anticipated measures would evolve gradually, depending on Russian actions. The first type would be travel bans against individuals and sanctions against economic entities via the seizing of assets in Europe and abroad.

In addition, Reynders said, “it will be necessary to ensure that there are no more imports of goods or services from Russia, such as energy, and that Russia’s global access to financial services is terminated.”

“Everything is on the table,” he said, adding member states were discussing how gradual the moves would be and the possibility for diplomacy to ease the conflict.