Legislators have given Russian President Vladimir Putin permission to use military force outside the country – a move that could presage a broader attack on Ukraine after the US said an invasion was already under way there.
Several European leaders said earlier today (22 February) that Russian troops have moved into rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine after Putin recognised their independence.
But it was unclear how large the movements were, and Ukraine and its Western allies have long said Russian troops are fighting in the region.
Moscow denies those allegations.
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Members of the upper house, the Federation Council, voted unanimously to allow Putin to use military force outside Russia.
This effectively formalised a Russian military deployment to the rebel regions, where an eight-year conflict has killed nearly 14,000 people.
The White House today began referring to Russian troop deployments in eastern Ukraine as an 'invasion' after initially hesitating to use the term – a red line that President Joe Biden has said would result in the US levying severe sanctions against Moscow.
“We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russia’s latest invasion into Ukraine,” said Jon Finer, principal deputy national security adviser, in an interview on CNN.
“An invasion is an invasion and that is what is under way.”
The White House decided to begin referring to Russia’s actions as an “invasion” because of the situation on the ground, according to a US official.
After assessing Russian troop movements, it became clear it was a new invasion, the official added.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki also alluded to the Russian action as being an invasion in a Twitter post commenting on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s decision to halt the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in response to Russia’s actions.
The US president 'made clear that if Russia invaded Ukraine, we would act with Germany to ensure Nord Stream 2 does not move forward', Ms Psaki said.
For weeks, Western powers have been bracing for an invasion as Russia massed an estimated 150,000 troops on three sides of neighbouring Ukraine.
They warned an attack would cause massive casualties, energy shortages in Europe and economic chaos around the globe – and promised swift and severe sanctions if it materialised.
The European Union and Britain announced on Tuesday that some of those measures were coming.
Western leaders have long warned Moscow would look for cover to invade – and just such a pretext appeared to come on Monday, when Putin recognised as independent two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, where government troops have fought Russia-backed rebels in a conflict that has killed more than 14,000 people.
Topics: Russia
Anish Vij