(VOVWORLD) - One week after Russia announced it was pulling troops back from border areas near Ukraine, tension remains high along the border of the two countries, who were both members of the former Soviet Union. This shows that challenges remain and greater efforts are needed.
 Ukrainian President Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy visits army military units stationed at Donbass region. (photo: REUTERS) |
On Monday Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" (DPR) and "Luhansk People's Republic" (LPR) as independent nations. The decree was immediately criticized by Ukraine and the West and the tension which has never subsided along the border of Russia and Ukraine over the last 4 years has intensified.
West increases pressure on Russia
The White House announced that President Biden plans to impose new trade and financing sanctions on Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, areas that Russia earlier recognized independent.
In a phone conversation on Monday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden said the US and its allies and partners will take prompt response.
Biden also called French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss how the West will coordinate their next steps. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Putin’s decree violates international commitments Russia has made.
The United States and allies have requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council later Monday on Russia's recognition of self-proclaimed territories in Ukraine as independent.
Analysts say pressure on Russia will now increase. These new developments have overshadowed the positive signals generated by recent shuttle diplomacy by the leaders of France and Germany.
French President Emmanuel Macron had persuaded the US and Russia to attend a summit to seek a solution to the crisis, but that possibility now appears to be receding.
Further dialogues, greater efforts needed
 UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks at a press conference at the UN Headquarters in New York, US on Feb 14, 2022. (photo: Xinhua) |
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called on all parties to peacefully resolve the crisis in line with the Minsk agreement endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2202. His spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on behalf of the Secretary General that all parties must focus their efforts toward ending all hostility, preventing any action that could escalate the tension, and using all diplomatic channels to peacefully resolve the situation.
The leaders of multiple countries have called on all parties to maintain dialogues and diplomatic exchanges and refrain from all activities that could increase tensions.
Russian officials say they still support a diplomatic solution. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he will meet his US counterpart Antony Blinken on February 24th in Geneva as scheduled.