The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, the President of the European Commission - Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council Charles Michel stated it.

The United States made a similar statement. 

"President Biden will soon issue an Executive Order (EO) that will prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by US persons to, from, or in the” separatist regions", White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

She also announced "additional measures related to today's gross violation of Russia's international obligations".

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss also announced plans to impose sanctions on Russia over the recognition of the L / DNR.

"Tomorrow we will be announcing new sanctions on Russia in response to their breach of international law and attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity", - she said.

According to the British government, following a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Vladimir Zelensky, London is considering the possibility of supplying additional defence weapons to Kyiv.

Canadian Foreign Ministry Melanie Joly also said that Ottawa is ready to impose economic sanctions due to Russia's decision to recognize ORDLO.

What the world is saying

Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics called for a "harsh international reaction" to Putin's decision to recognize the L / DNR.

"The EU must impose sanctions immediately", - he said.

Estonian President Alar Karis stressed that the country does not recognize "Russia's illegal decision to recognize ORDLO".

"Obviously, Moscow does not really want to go through diplomacy, but instead is looking for a reason to start a war", - the politician wrote.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said Russia's recognition of the "L / DPR" was "a disregard for international law and the UN Charter".

"Russia must be recognized as what it is: a state that is beyond international rules and civilized norms. I am still convinced that such a path of escalation must be met with sanctions", - he said.

Georgian President Salome Zourabishvili said Putin's decision was "a repetition of the scenario that led to the occupation of 20% of the country's territory".

 "Georgia supports you, President Zelensky, and supports the territorial integrity and peace of Ukraine", - she said, calling for immediate sanctions against Russia.

The Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki stated that the recognition of "L / DNR" by Russia is "a denial of dialogue and a blatant violation of international law, as well as an act of aggression against Ukraine". He called for an urgent meeting of the European Council to discuss the situation.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Wopke Hoestra, Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin, and President of Romania Klaus Johannis also spoke in support of Ukraine and condemned Russia's actions.

Austrian Foreign Minister Karl Nehammer said that on February 22, the federal government would hold an urgent meeting to discuss further action.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss also condemned Putin's decision.

"This step is another attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It signals the end of the Minsk process and the violation of the UN Charter. It signals Russia's decision to choose a path of confrontation rather than dialogue", - she said.

The German Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Russia's recognition of the "L/DPR" is "deliberately and for no apparent reason destroying years of efforts in the Normandy format and the OSCE".

"By its decision, Russia is breaking all promises to the international community. We call on Russia to reverse the decision and return to the path of political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict based on the Minsk agreements", - the statement said.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Putin's decision to recognize "separatist regions in eastern Ukraine". He called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council and the adoption of targeted European sanctions.

In her statement, Maia Sandu, President of Moldova, stressed her support for "Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders".

"We strongly condemn Russia's recognition of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. This is contrary to international law", - she said.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it condemned Russia's decision to recognize the L / DPR and supported Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that the recognition of the "L / DPR" "undermines Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, erodes efforts to resolve the conflict, and violates the Minsk agreements".

The spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, said the official considered Russia's actions "a violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, inconsistent with the principles of the UN Charter". He called for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine following the Minsk agreements.

What is known

• On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the self-proclaimed "LPR" and "DPR" and signed a decree.
• Ukraine and the West have stated that Russia's recognition of the L / DNR means its withdrawal from the Minsk agreements.
• A few hours after Russia's recognition of the L / DNR, Moscow began bringing its troops into their territory, ostensibly for peacekeeping purposes.
• President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine would remain the same, despite Russia's actions that mean ignoring decisions within the Normandy format and the Kremlin's unilateral withdrawal from the Minsk agreements.
• Ukraine has initiated an emergency summit of the Normandy Four. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine sent a request within the framework of the Budapest Memorandum with a request to hold consultations immediately.

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