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On the request of Kyiv, the US, five European states, and Mexico, the United Nations Security Council will conduct an emergency meeting on Ukraine on Tuesday. The UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine will now be a ‘open’ discussion, with India making a statement on the issue.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has tried to reassure the people, telling the country: “We are not afraid of anyone or anything. We don’t owe anyone anything. And we won’t give anything to anyone.”

The conference was held in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to declare the “Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics” in eastern Ukraine “independent” and his orders to Russian forces to “keep the peace” in the region.

Putin’s announcement raised fears that an invasion was on the way, if not already taking place. Putin’s directive, which was vaguely phrased and framed as an endeavour to “maintain peace,” did not specify if troops were moving. However, it appeared to destroy any residual chances of averting a big European conflict that may result in massive casualties, energy shortages on the continent, and global economic catastrophe.

The Russian president issued the order just hours after recognizing the separatist regions in a rambling, fact-bending speech on European history. The decision prepared the path for them to get military backing, enraging Western officials who see such a move as a violation of world order, and triggering a frantic response from the US and others.

India will also make a statement at the UN Security Council meeting. After Putin signed a decree recognising two self-proclaimed independent republics in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, the situation has worsened. If President Vladimir Putin launches an invasion of Ukraine, Japan is likely to join US-led sanctions against Russia.

Putin signed decree recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, eight years after conflict started between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces, and urged legislators to accept measures allowing for military assistance.

Also Read:  Donetsk and Luhansk will be recognised as independent by Russia