LIVE UPDATES: Russian President Orders Peacekeeping Mission in DPR, LPR

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - France believes that Russia needs to follow up its words about readiness for dialogue in the situation around Ukraine with deeds, reviewing the decision to recognize the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics (DPR and LPR), France's Permanent Representative to the UN Nicolas de Rivière said.

"We call on Russia to back up with deeds its words that it prefers the path of dialogue by canceling the decision on the recognition [of the DPR and LPR]. We, in coordination with European partners, are preparing targeted sanctions against those who made this illegal decision," de Riviere said at a meeting of the UN Security Council on Ukraine.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - China’s Ambassador to the United Nations Zhang Jun on Monday urged all parties involved in tensions in Ukraine to continue dialogue and seek for diplomatic solution.

"All parties concerned must exercise restraint and avoid any action that may fuel tensions. We welcome and encourage every effort to diplomatic solution and call on all parties concerned to continue dialogue and consultation and seek reasonable solutions to address each other’s concerns on the basis of equality and mutual respect," Jun said at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

Nebenzia further underscored that Russia is wholly open to diplomatic efforts, but that it is not willing to allow a bloodbath in the region. Additionally, the Russian envoy reiterated the Minsk agreement hasn’t been followed through with, and that suggestions Russia is responsible for the current standings is untrue as the nation is not part of the deal.

BERLIN (Sputnik) - The leaders of the United States, Germany and France have promised that Russia's recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics (DPR and LPR) will not be left without a response, the German cabinet said following a telephone conversation between US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron.

"All three interlocutors agreed that this unilateral step by Russia is a clear violation of the Minsk agreements. Germany, France and the United States sharply condemned the decision of the Russian president. This step will not be left without a response," it said.

According to the statement, the US, German and French leaders vowed to do everything possible to prevent further escalation in Donbas.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The protection of the people's republics of Donetsk and Lugansk(DPR, LPR) state borders will be carried out jointly with Moscow, draft agreements published by Russian State Duma on Tuesday read.
"The protection of the state border of the Lugansk People's Republic will be carried out by the joint efforts of the Contracting Parties based on the interests of their own security, as well as peace and stability. The Contracting Parties shall conclude a separate agreement on this matter," article 3 of the draft agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance with the LPR read.

The same formula was featured in the draft agreement between Russia and the DPR with both agreements concluded for a period of ten years.

According to agreements, the parties obliged to respect the integrity and inviolability of each other's borders with Russian taking effective measures to maintain and operate the financial and banking system of the republics.

The ambassador also took the opportunity to accuse Putin of destroying the Minsk agreements, saying that the Russian leader "has torn the Minsk agreement to shreds."

"We have been clear that we do not believe he will stop on that. In light of President Putin's latest actions, we must all stand up for the principles upon which this organization was founded," Thomas-Greenfield told the UN Security Council.

Russia has repeatedly accused Kiev of reneging on their commitments under the Minsk agreements while saying that Moscow itself was never a party to the accords but rather a mediator.

PARIS (Sputnik) - The European Union will make a decision on introduction of sanctions package against Russia over Moscow’s recognition of the people's republics of Donetsk and Lugansk (DPR, LPR) "tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Monday.
"This is a very serious fact… The European Union will decide tomorrow or the day after tomorrow on the imposition of a limited package of sanctions against the people behind this," Rutte said as aired by the Netherlands' national broadcaster RTL Nieuws.

Rutte added that the fact of DPR and LPR recognition is a sufficient reason for imposing "massive sanctions package."

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States will be closely watching Russia’s actions regarding Ukraine in coming hours and days in order to respond accordingly, a senior administration official told reporters on Monday.

“We are going to be looking very closely at what they [Russia] do over the coming hours and days, and our response will be measured according to their actions," the official said.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The Biden administration is considering ordering the relocation of US diplomats, including the embassy staff, still remaining in Ukraine to Poland due to security concerns, Bloomberg reported citing sources.

The report said on Monday that American diplomats may return to Ukraine on Tuesday if there is no Russian invasion.

The US embassy staff in Ukraine was previously relocated from Kiev to the western city of Lviv.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - The United States has requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine to be held later on Monday, a source in the Council told Sputnik.

“The United States has asked for a meeting to be held tonight," the source said.

The official further indicated that Washington is open for engagements between the American and Russian presidents, while weighing certain preconditions for that.

"In connection with the appeal by the head of the Lugansk People's Republic, the Russian Defense Ministry, prior to the conclusion of the treaty referred to in clause 3 of this decree, must ensure the implementation of peacekeeping functions by Russia's Armed Forces on the territory of the Lugansk People's Republic," according to clause 4 of the decree on the LPR. There is a similar clause in the decree on the DPR.

In addition, the president instructed the Russian Foreign Ministry to hold talks with the DPR and LPR on the establishment of diplomatic relations, friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance. Decrees recognizing the LPR and DPR as sovereign and independent states were published early on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - After Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement about the recognition of the DPR and LPR, US President Joe Biden had a secure call with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a White House official told reporters.

"President Biden convened a secure call at 15:17 EST [20:27 GMT] with French President Macron and German Chancellor Scholz," the spokesperson said.

Details of the conversation between the leaders have not yet been disclosed.