Donbass republics recognition: key points

1. RussianThe Federation Council unanimously approved Putin’s appeal on the use of the Russian army abroad;

2. Peacekeepers will be sent to Donbass, Valentina Matvienko, Chairman of the Federation Council, said:

“[The decision] is aimed at stopping this bloody civil war, in order to prevent further shelling of peaceful villages, civilians, in order to create normal conditions for people’s lives and ensure security”;

3. Russia evaluates Scholz’s statement to stop the certification of Nord Stream-2 with regret, this is a purely commercial project, Peskov said;

4. For the first time since 2018, the Ukrainian security forces used the Grad MLRS, the DPR reported;

5. LPR reports a soldier is dead due to shelling near the village of Zholobok in the Donbass. Two DPR fighters were wounded during the night shelling of the Armed Forces of Ukraine;

6. The EU has said it will introduce the first part of a package of sanctions against Russia tonight. Britain will impose sanctions against members of the State Duma and the Federation Council who voted for the recognition of the republics;

7. The White House considers Russia’s latest steps towards Ukraine as “the beginning of a Russian invasion”;

8. The reaction to the events in Ukraine should not develop into Russophobia and discrimination against Russians in Britain, Johnson stressed.