Ukraine imposes a state of emergency for 30 days

In the latest ominous signs of an all-out Russian military onslaught, Ukraine has declared a state of emergency and ordered its citizens in Russia to leave immediately. Moscow has begun evacuating its embassy in Kyiv.

Shelling increased on Wednesday near the line of contact in eastern Ukraine, where Russian President Vladimir Putin this week recognised the independence of two Moscow-backed rebel districts and ordered Russian troops to be deployed as “peacekeepers.”

However, no indication was given as to whether he intends to follow up with a massed assault on Ukraine, involving the tens of thousands of troops he has amassed along his neighbor’s borders.

“I cannot predict what Russia’s next step will be, whether it is with separatists or with the Russian president’s personal decisions,” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated.

Later that day, Ukraine’s parliament overwhelmingly adopted Zelenskyy’s order, which establishes a 30-day state of emergency beginning Thursday. In the “interests of national security and public order,” authorities can impose movement restrictions, stop gatherings, and outlaw political parties and groups during the state of emergency.

“I cannot predict what Russia’s next step will be, whether it is with separatists or with the Russian president’s personal decisions,” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated.

Later that day, Ukraine’s parliament overwhelmingly adopted Zelenskyy’s order, which establishes a 30-day state of emergency beginning Thursday. In the “interests of national security and public order,” authorities can impose movement restrictions, stop gatherings, and outlaw political parties and groups during the state of emergency.

All men of fighting age in Ukraine will be required to serve in the military, according to the Ukrainian administration.

Ukraine’s government and state websites, which have been down in recent weeks due to cyberattacks blamed on Kyiv, were down again on Wednesday. The websites of Ukraine’s parliament, cabinet, and foreign ministry were all hacked.

Moscow has dismissed concerns as anti-Russian hysteria, denying that it is contemplating an invasion. It has not, however, taken any efforts to evacuate the troops stationed near Ukraine’s borders.

Russia took down its flags from its embassy in Kyiv on Wednesday, after ordering its diplomats to flee for safety reasons.

Sanctions -

The US has labelled Russia’s actions as the beginnings of a “invasion,” but has only released modest penalties with partners so far, while indicating that heavier measures were on the way in the event of a full-scale invasion.

President Joe Biden announced that the US would impose penalties on the corporation developing Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline as part of an initial round of sanctions.

All members of Russia’s lower house of parliament who voted to recognise separatist territories in Ukraine will be added to a blacklist, with their assets frozen and travel prohibited, according to European Union penalties passed on Wednesday.

Later on Thursday, EU leaders were scheduled to meet for an extraordinary summit to discuss future actions.

The United Kingdom announced new limitations prohibiting Russia from issuing new bonds in its security markets, as well as a request that its broadcasting authority look into Russia’s RT worldwide television news programme as a propaganda tool.

President Joe Biden announced that the US would impose penalties on the corporation developing Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline as part of an initial round of sanctions.

All members of Russia’s lower house of parliament who voted to recognise separatist territories in Ukraine will be added to a blacklist, with their assets frozen and travel prohibited, according to European Union penalties passed on Wednesday.

Later on Thursday, EU leaders were scheduled to meet for an extraordinary summit to discuss future actions.

The United Kingdom announced new limitations prohibiting Russia from issuing new bonds in its security markets, as well as a request that its broadcasting authority look into Russia’s RT worldwide television news programme as a propaganda tool.

If there is a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, there will be even tougher penalties on important oligarchs and organisations in Russia, limiting Russia’s access to financial markets,” UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said.

The moves come after a flurry of announcements on Tuesday, including Germany’s decision to halt licencing of a new Russian gas pipeline and the imposition of fresh US sanctions on Russian institutions.

However, none of the actions outlined so far directly target Putin or are expected to have significant medium-term ramifications for Moscow, which has over $630 billion in international reserves. The rouble declined, but only slightly.

For weeks, Western governments have been warning about the likelihood of Europe’s worst conflict in decades. That hasn’t happened, but the threat is still there, leaving policymakers with a difficult time determining how to respond.

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