IAccording to pro-Russian separatists, two people have been killed in eastern Ukraine, including one of their fighters. Insurgents in the Donetsk region said on Telegram that a miner was shot dead on his way to work. They blamed the Ukrainian army. The fighting continued on Monday night. However, the information cannot be independently verified.
For days there have been repeated attacks in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. International observers speak of a massive increase in violations of the current ceasefire. In view of the conflict between Moscow and Kiev, the separatists have called on the population to flee to Russia. According to Russian information, more than 61,000 people have left there, as reported by the Interfax news agency.
All developments in the live ticker:
09:40 – Kremlin: Tensions are rising
According to the Russian Presidential Office, tensions with Ukraine are increasing, but there are contacts at the diplomatic level. President Vladimir Putin will immediately contact the National Security Council, says Presidential Office spokesman Dmitry Peskov. This is not a regular meeting. When asked whether Russia would intervene directly in the Donbass should the pro-Russian separatists there ask for it, Peskov did not answer. In the region in eastern Ukraine, the situation is extremely tense and worrying, he told reporters. There is shelling and provocation.
08:52 – EU backs US-Russia talks
The European Union supports efforts for US-Russia talks to find a peaceful solution to the Ukraine-Russia crisis. Summit meetings at the level of heads of state or ministers are urgently needed, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters before the start of the EU foreign ministers’ talks. “We will support anything that can make diplomatic talks the best and only way to find a solution to the crisis.”
08:40 – Baerbock to Putin: “We are waiting for you”
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock sharply condemns Russia’s actions and calls for a dialogue to be initiated immediately. “Come back to the negotiating table,” Baerbock said to Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels. “We’re waiting for you!” The government’s actions in Moscow are a “really irresponsible game,” says Baerbock, and appeals: “Don’t play with human lives.” The lives of people in Donbass are “highly endangered.” Baerbock points out that in many places in eastern Ukraine the power and water supply is no longer guaranteed.
06:25 – US apparently prepared sanctions against Russian banks
According to insiders, the US government has prepared an initial package of sanctions against Russia aimed at the banking sector. Among other things, the plan is to ban US financial institutions from processing transactions for large Russian banks, the Reuters news agency learned from three people familiar with the matter. The aim of the measures is to damage the Russian economy. According to the information, the sanctions will only be implemented in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
04:06 – Putin and Biden accept Macron’s proposal on the two-party summit
US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have approved French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to hold a US-Russia summit on the Ukraine crisis.
President Biden has “in principle” agreed to a meeting with Putin, the White House said. “We are always ready for diplomacy,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. “But we are also ready to take quick and severe consequences if Russia decides to go to war instead.” The timing and format have yet to be determined.
In addition to the two-way summit between Biden and Putin, Macron also proposed a subsequent summit meeting “with all those involved” in the conflict. It is supposed to be about “security and strategic stability in Europe”. The meeting between the presidents of the US and Russia is to be prepared by the respective foreign ministers, Antony Blinken and Sergey Lavrov, at their meeting on Thursday. It “can only take place if Russia does not invade Ukraine,” it said.
Macron had previously phoned the two heads of state. He even spoke twice to Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin on Sunday. According to the Kremlin, during the first phone call, Macron and Putin agreed to “facilitate the restoration of the ceasefire and ensure progress in resolving the conflict.” In the conversation, however, Putin also denounced “provocations” by the Ukrainian army.
4:01 a.m. – EU foreign ministers discuss with Ukrainian colleague Kuleba
The foreign ministers of the European Union will discuss the Russian troop deployment with their Ukrainian colleague Dmytro Kuleba on Monday (8:30 a.m.). The focus of the Brussels meeting are the diplomatic efforts to avert a war. Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) is also expected to attend the council. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is also discussing the Ukraine conflict at a crisis meeting on Monday.
According to diplomats, the 27 EU countries want to decide on a long-planned military training program in Ukraine at their meeting in Brussels. The foreign ministers also want to discuss the future of the EUTM military mission in West African Mali, in which around 300 soldiers are involved. The withdrawal of France puts it in question. Baerbock also wants to consult with her colleagues on climate diplomacy.
3:21 am – Harris sure Putin is invading
“Putin has made his decision. Period,” Vice President Kamala Harris said in response to questions from reporters as she returned to Washington from the Munich Security Conference on Sunday.
00:09 – Johnson and Macron: Crucial to diplomacy next week
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron intend to continue their diplomatic efforts to prevent the Ukraine conflict from escalating. “The Prime Minister and President Macron agree that the coming week will be crucial for diplomacy,” it said on Sunday evening after a phone call between the two heads of government from Downing Street.
12:02 a.m. – 5,000 Bundeswehr protective helmets ready for delivery
The 5,000 protective helmets promised by Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) for Ukraine are now ready for transport. “The helmets are ready for delivery,” a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense told the editorial network Germany (RND).
“As soon as all modalities have been confirmed by the Ukrainian side, the helmets can be delivered. These are then on site within three days.” Lambrecht had announced the delivery at the end of January. This had caused criticism because Ukraine had repeatedly asked for the delivery of weapons. On Thursday it was announced that the helmets had not yet arrived.