Andrew Osborn, Dmitry Antonov

MOSCOW, (Reuters) – The United States of America and its European allies plan to announce severe new sanctions against Russia Tuesday. It comes after President Vladimir Putin recognized two separatist regions in Eastern Ukraine. This has exacerbated a security emergency on the continent.

Putin’s Monday announcement drew condemnation from the international community and prompt U.S. sanction. President Joe Biden signed an executive order to stop U.S. commerce in these regions, and prohibit imports of goods from areas controlled or backed by Russia.

Britain, France, and Germany agreed to respond by means of sanctions. The United States stated that they would also announce additional measures Tuesday.

After an emergency meeting at the Security Council on Monday, Linda Thomas-Greenfield (ambassador to USA) said that the United States would impose sanctions against Russia in response to what she called a clear violation of international law as well as Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

We can, must, and will stand together in calling for Russia’s withdrawal of its troops, return to diplomatic tables, and to work towards peace.

Britain said it had drawn up sanctions to target those complicit in the violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and those measures would come into force on Tuesday.

Vassily Nebenzia the Russian U.N. ambassador warned that Western power should “think twice” to improve their situation.

A Reuters witness saw tanks and other military hardware moving through the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk on Monday hours after Putin formally recognised the breakaway regions and ordered the deployment of Russian forces to “keep the peace”. There was no insignia visible on any of the vehicles.

Russia claims that it does not intend to attack Ukraine. However, it has placed troops at Ukraine’s border and threatened “military technical” action without receiving sweeping security guarantees. This includes a promise that Ukraine would never be a NATO member.

An American official stated that Russia’s deployment to the breakaway areas did not merit any of the most severe sanctions it and its allies were prepared for in the case of full-scale war. Russia already had troops there.

Russian-backed separatists fighting in Ukraine’s Donetsk or Luhansk region – commonly known as “the Donbass” – broke from Ukrainian government control and declared their independence in 2014.

Volodymyr Zeleskiy, the Ukrainian president, was called by Biden on Monday to show solidarity. He accused Russia of destroying peace negotiations and rejected territorial concessions.

Oil prices rose to seven-year highs on Tuesday due to rising fears about a major European war. Safe-haven currencies such as the Japanese climbed, and global stock markets plummeted. [MKTS/GLOB] [RU/RUB] [O/R]As Putin spoke, the rouble lost more and fell to 80 dollars per dollar.

GRIEVANCES

Putin declared that the eastern Ukraine is an ancient Russian country in an angry televised address.

Putin explored the history of Europe as far as the Ottoman Empire and voiced frustration at Russia’s repeated rejections of his demands to rewrite Europe’s security arrangements.

Putin stated, “I consider it necessary to take a decision that should be made long ago – to recognize the independence and sovereignty the Donetsk People’s Republic & the Lugansk People’s Republic immediately.”

Putin spent years trying to restore Russia’s influence over countries that emerged following the collapse of Soviet Union. Ukraine is a significant part of Putin’s ambitions. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 from Ukraine.

French President Official said that the speech mixed “various considerations of a rigid, paranoid nature.”