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New developments are unfolding right now in Ukraine.
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Updated - 9:45 AM, 2/22
Russia's Federation Council has given consent to President Vladimir Putin on the use of armed forces outside the country in connection with the situation in the Donbas, Russian state news agencies RIA-Novosti and TASS reported Tuesday. "The Federation Council decides to give consent to the President of the Russian Federation for the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation outside the territory of the Russian Federation on the basis of the generally recognized principles and norms of international law," TASS said, citing the decree. "The total number of formations of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, their areas of operation, their tasks, the period of stay outside the territory of the Russian Federation are determined by the President of the Russian Federation in accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation."
A resolution was unanimously adopted, with 153 senators voting in favor. Since the adoption announcement, President Putin has declined to give a specific timeline on the deployment of Russian troops. In response, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has stated G7 foreign ministers have agreed to a "strong package of coordinated escalatory sanctions" against Russia in response to Moscow "violating their international commitments."
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Russian troops are said to be moving into two territories now recognized as independent states. Meanwhile, President Biden is expected to reveal new sanctions against Russia today - the European Union and the U.K. are doing the same in response to new military action.
Tensions are high for Ukrainians after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into two separatist pro-Moscow regions in Eastern Ukraine after recognizing their independence on Monday, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to urge the citizens to remain calm. Western nations like Germany announced measures to punish Moscow, saying it halted moves to open the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The European Union proposed a ban on purchases of Russian bonds and sanctions on Russian parliament members who voted in favor of supporting recognition of the two breakaway regions.
Kyiv and its Western partners are reportedly waiting to see whether the Russian forces entering the “people’s republics” would try to engage with Ukrainian positions in coming days.