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Last night, the Russian Senate approved Putin's request to send troops abroad.

Although President Putin denied that "we are not sending troops to Ukraine right now," European countries all at once began to impose additional sanctions on Russia.



Reporter Lee Hyun-young on the sidewalk.



<Reporter> The



Russian Senate unanimously approved President Vladimir Putin's request to send troops overseas, with 153 members attending.



Earlier, President Putin abruptly approved the independence of the pro-Russian rebel republic in the Donbas region, eastern Ukraine, ordered the entry of Russian troops, and then requested the Senate to approve the use of his troops abroad.



In response, Putin repeatedly denied the 'invasion' rumors, saying, "I am not trying to send troops to the Donbas region of Ukraine right now."



Nevertheless, he stressed that "we will provide military assistance at the request of the Republics of Donbas-Donetsk and Lugansk", adding that "it depends on the specific circumstances created on the site".



The European Union and major European countries, such as the UK and Germany, have launched sanctions against Russia all at once.



At an emergency meeting held in Paris, France, the foreign ministers of EU member states unanimously agreed on proposals for Russian banks as well as individuals including members of the Russian House of Representatives.



[Ursula von der Leyen/Chairman of the European Commission: Our actions today are a response to Russia's aggressive actions.



Germany has made a decision to suspend the 'Nord Stream-2' gas pipeline project linking Russia and Germany, and the UK has also announced that it will sanction five Russian banks and three people, including a businessman close to Putin.



NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also criticized Russia for appearing to be planning an all-out invasion of Ukraine.