Deployment of Russian Troops Taken As First Steps of Invasion, EU Responds

02/22/22 By Keshav Vinod

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the deployment of military troops to the separatist region of the eastern part of Ukraine. This development has caused various world leaders today to move swiftly to impose a response in the hope of avoiding war in Europe.

Photo courtesy of MGN.

The first step was taken by Olaf Scholz as Germany halted the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia. It is a fairly lucrative deal that was being sought after by Moscow. The gas pipeline was also condemned by the United States as it would make Europe more reliant on Russian energy. 

Many of the other European Union countries came forward and laid sanctions on Russia, such as limiting Moscow’s access to EU capital and finance markets. Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the UK, went as far as to already name five banks and other wealthy individuals who were hit with sanctions. 

President Joe Biden is also close to imposing sanctions as Russia’s troop deployment has been received as the first steps to an invasion. A line that President Biden said, if crossed, would result in heavy sanctions against Moscow. 

China, which is a traditional ally of Russia, has called for restraint and to still use diplomatic channels to solve the crisis. There are an estimated 150,000 troops that have massed Ukraine on three sides. Biden and Putin, however, have decided to meet tentatively in a get-together brokered by French President Emmanuel Macron in a hail-mary to avoid war.