NEW YORK CITY — President Biden is expected to reveal new sanctions against Russia today.
This is in response to Russia’s leader now recognizing two breakaway areas of Ukraine as independent. In what amounts to invasion, Vladimir Putin has ordered troops to move in, saying they’re there to act as peacekeepers.
But during an emergency meeting of United Nations security council members, the U.S. ambassador called that nonsense. She claims Putin is again making false claims to justify a war.
“We know what they really are,” said U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield. “In doing so (Putin) has put before the world a choice. We must meet the moment and we must not look away.”
Russia’s UN representative claims the provinces of Eastern Ukraine declared their independence years ago.
“They declared their independence from Ukraine back in 2014,” he said. “We only recognize them now despite the high level of support for doing so within the Republics themselves and in Russian society from the very beginning.”
He made accusations that Ukraine has jeopardized the safety of those in the eastern part of the country with threats of attacks. The Russian representative added that they are still open to diplomacy to resolve the situation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said “we are not afraid of anything or anyone and we owe nothing to anyone.” He accuses the Russian government of “revisionist history” in claiming some eastern provinces claimed independence in 2014.
