The fear of a military escalation in Ukraine, at the gates of which 150,000 Russian soldiers have, according to Washington, been deployed, has been at its peak since Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized the independence of the secessionist entities of Lugansk and Donetsk, located in east of this country.

The Russian president is "developing justifications to go much further," Joe Biden said in an address to the nation, 24 hours after his counterpart's major decision.

"There is still time to avoid the worst," he added, however.

In Moscow, Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov read before the Senate a request from the Russian President to deploy troops in the entities of Donetsk and Lugansk, on the grounds that a "(Ukrainian) army of 60,000 men and armored vehicles heavy" would be ready to attack.

He cast doubt on the timetable for sending armed forces, calling for a "demilitarization" of Ukraine, which would "better" to give up his ambition to join NATO to choose "neutrality".

"I didn't say that our soldiers are going to go there now... It will depend, as they say, on the situation on the ground," he said.

Immediately afterwards, Russian diplomacy announced the forthcoming evacuation of its diplomats from Ukraine.

Mr. Putin also claimed for the separatists all of the administrative regions of Lugansk and Donetsk, the area of ​​which greatly exceeds that of the territories under their control.

He mentioned hypothetical "negotiations" between Kiev and pro-Russian forces.

The Russian intervention would be legally justified by the ratification Tuesday of mutual aid agreements, in particular at the military level.

And Moscow has also established diplomatic relations with the two regions.

First penalties

NATO expects "a massive attack" from Russia in Ukraine, announced in this context its secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg.

Without waiting, the West took the first sanctions in response to the recognition of the separatists that Kiev has been fighting for eight years, a conflict that has killed more than 14,000 people.

The most dramatic measure was announced by Berlin, which froze the gigantic Nord Stream II gas pipeline project, which was to bring even more Russian gas to Germany.

At the White House, Biden announced a "first tranche" of sanctions aimed at preventing Moscow from raising Western funds to repay its sovereign debt.

Ukraine: the independence of the two pro-Russian separatist zones recognized by Putin Patricio ARANA AFP

They will also target Russian banks and certain "elites" of the country.

The EU has adopted a package of sanctions that "will hurt Russia very much", assured the head of its diplomacy, Josep Borrell.

And British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced sanctions targeting three oligarchs close to the Kremlin and five Russian banks, minimum measures for London, the financial stronghold of the great Russian fortunes.

He also said he was opposed to international matches in Russia, such as the Champions League football final scheduled for the end of May in Saint Petersburg.

These measures remain for the moment modest compared to those promised in the event of a major invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country on Tuesday demanded "weapons" and guarantees on its EU membership, said he was now considering a break in diplomatic relations with Moscow.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his televised speech in Kiev on February 22, 2022 STR UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP

Accused by Kiev of wanting to "resurrect the USSR", Mr. Putin on the contrary defended himself from seeking to "reconstitute an empire".

"Not afraid"

The Russian president, who has dictated the tempo from the start, maintains the mystery of his intentions and has several options before him: invade all of Ukraine, expand the area under the control of the separatists or wrest a new negotiated status quo.

Because an occupation could be expensive in a hostile country, and Russia wants to obtain from NATO its retreat in Eastern Europe and the end of its enlargement policy.

Requirements rejected so far.

Russia-Ukraine: Gal ROMA military forces AFP

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov for his part warned on Tuesday that “difficult trials” and losses awaited Ukraine.

During the night, President Zelensky had for his part assured that the Ukrainians were "not afraid of anything or anyone" and would not give up "a single piece of the country".

On the front line, shootings were still taking place with the separatists.

Kiev denies any offensive action, contrary to Moscow's claims, accusing its opponents of spreading false information aimed at trying to justify an intervention.

In Shchastia, residents of this small town near the separatist areas were cleaning up the damage caused by shells that fell the previous night on a residential area on Tuesday.

Valentyna Chmatkova, 59, was sleeping when the projectiles exploded, blowing out the windows of her one-bedroom apartment.

"We did not expect it. We did not think that Ukraine and Russia would not come to an agreement in the end," she laments.

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© 2022 AFP