After recognising breakaway regions, Putin sends Russian troops to Ukraine.
MOSCOW, Feb 21 (Reuters) – After recognizing two separatist areas in eastern Ukraine as independent on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of soldiers, escalating a crisis that the West worries will escalate into a major conflict.
A Reuters witness saw unusually large columns of military hardware moving through the breakaway city of Donetsk after Putin instructed Russia’s defense ministry to send troops into the two regions to “maintain the peace” in a decree issued shortly after Russian-backed separatists there were recognized.
The moves brought condemnation from the US and Europe, as well as threats of fresh sanctions, though it was unclear whether the West would see the Russian military action as the start of a full-scale invasion.
Putin had conveyed his decision earlier in phone calls to the presidents of Germany and France, both of whom expressed disappointment, the Kremlin said, ignoring Western cautions against such a move.
Putin’s recognition of Ukraine’s breakaway regions is condemned by Biden.
As he spoke to world leaders about the latest developments in the conflict, US President Joe Biden condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to recognize two breakaway regions of Ukraine.
The White House state that “On a call with Ukraine President Volodymr Zelenskiy, Biden strongly opposed Russian President Putin’s decision to purportedly recognize the “independence” of the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine,”.
Myanmar will contest the ICJ’s Rohingya case in the absence of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Myanmar’s junta is expected to replace Aung San Suu Kyi at the United Nations’ top court on Monday (February 21), as it seeks to dismiss a case over the alleged genocide of Rohingya Muslims.
The Nobel peace laureate, who was criticized by rights groups for her involvement in the case, is now being held under house arrest and facing prosecution by the same generals she defended in The Hague. (H’egg)
Myanmar will argue in its “preliminary objections” on Monday that the court lacks jurisdiction over the case and therefore dismiss it before proceeding to substantive hearings.
The junta has a new team led by Ko Ko Hlaing, the foreign cooperation minister, and Thida Oo, the attorney general, who will attend digitally, according to local Myanmar media.
Malaysian PM to Visit Cambodia This Week – ក្រសួងព័ត៌មាន
Malaysia’s Prime Minister will pay a visit to Cambodia This week.
At the invitation of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, H E. Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob, Malaysia’s Prime Minister, will lead a high-level delegation visiting Cambodia on February 23-24.
The two Prime Ministers will have a meeting to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation, including trade and investment, socio-economic, defense and security, and the post-COVID-19 socio-economic recovery, as well as exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and concern. The two Prime Ministers will hold a joint press conference at the conclusion of the meeting.
