The crisis in Ukraine

Germany freezes Nord Stream 2 project from Russia, UK imposes sanctions

Guy Elster

22/02/2022

Tuesday, 22 February 2022, 14:30 Updated: 14:49

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In video: Russia increases military presence on Ukraine border (Photo: Reuters)

German Chancellor Olaf Schultz announced today (Tuesday) the freezing of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project from Russia, in response to its recognition of the independence of the separatist provinces in eastern Ukraine.

This is the most firm step Europe is expected to take against Moscow at this stage, and the EU has already formulated a package of sanctions on personalities involved in Ukraine's split.

Britain has also announced sanctions on Russia.

"We have to re-examine the situation, especially when it comes to Nord Stream 2," Schultz said at a news conference with the Irish prime minister in Berlin.

The pipeline, which is supposed to transport gas from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea - thus effectively bypassing Ukraine - was completed a few months ago, but did not receive the approval of the authorities due to the crisis in Ukraine.

Kiev, which has called on the West to impose severe sanctions on Russia, welcomed Germany's move, which has so far been reluctant on the issue.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zlansky said today that he does not anticipate a total invasion of Russia, but if that happens - "more countries will be in danger as well."

Alongside the Estonian president, the Ukrainian president said he was considering his foreign minister's request to sever diplomatic relations with Moscow.

Russia said in response that it was not interested in severing relations.

More on Walla!

Putin recognizes the independence of separatist districts in Ukraine and orders the sending of an "observer force"

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Installation of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project in Lombin, northern Germany, February 15, 2022 (Photo: AP)

In a forceful speech before the signing of the recognition of the separatist provinces, Putin said yesterday that Ukraine is not a "real country", but an "American colony" in which a corrupt "puppet regime" is practiced.

He attacked the leaders of the Soviet Union, who he said were the ones who gave up parts of the homeland in favor of the artificial establishment of Ukraine.

Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said Putin's decision meant the Kremlin took one more step towards re - establishing the Soviet Union.

However, the Russian president, who met today with the president of Azerbaijan - who was also part of the Soviet Union - made it clear that Moscow respects the sovereignty of the rest of the former Soviet republics, and that Ukraine is exceptional because it is under "foreign rule".

Russia's Foreign Ministry stressed this morning that it was too early to discuss the borders of the new "republics" - some of whose territories are still under Ukrainian government control.

Moscow has called on other countries to recognize the provinces' independence, and some of its allies, including Syria and Nicaragua, have already sided with Russia.

Installation of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project in Lombin, northern Germany, February 15, 2022 (Photo: Reuters)

Western countries, which had hoped until the last minute to prevent Putin from recognizing separatist provinces, have promised to impose sanctions on those involved

. And investments by U.S. citizens in separatist districts, however, a government official said tonight that sending Russian forces has not yet constituted "another invasion, which will impose broader sanctions."

However, he added that a full invasion could occur at any moment.

Map of the conflict (Photo: Reuters)

London, on the other hand, said the invasion had actually begun and Prime Minister Boris Johnson had promised that sanctions would "hit hard" in Russia.

He is expected to reveal them to parliament later in the day.

"It can be determined that the invasion of Ukraine has begun," said British Health Minister Sajid Javid earlier, adding that as a result the kingdom would impose sanctions on Russia.

He said Europe had awakened to a "very dark day in Europe" and he likened the current crisis to the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, when the United States and the Soviet Union were close to a nuclear war.

The confrontation was averted when Moscow agreed to take out the missiles it had deployed in Cuba, and in return the United States secretly fired missiles it had placed in Turkey.

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