Kremlin: Recognition of breakaway regions includes territory held by Ukraine

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that Russia’s recognition of breakaway regions in Ukraine includes areas the Ukrainian military controls. 

Peskov clarified that Russia will be recognizing independence for areas Moscow-backed separatists claimed in 2014 after Russia took Crimea, The Washington Post reported. 

Ukraine has taken much of the land the rebels claimed in 2014, the newspaper noted.

Russia’s move to recognize parts of Ukraine as independent and deploy troops has been widely condemned internationally, with the U.K. announcing a new round of sanctions on Tuesday. 

Germany also said the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline would be halted. 

“@POTUS made clear that if Russia invaded Ukraine, we would act with Germany to ensure Nord Stream 2 does not move forward. We have been in close consultations with Germany overnight and welcome their announcement,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a tweet on Tuesday. 

“We will be following up with our own measures today,” she added.

Although Peskov did not confirm if Russian troops were on Ukraine soil already, some European officials have said troops have crossed the border. 

British Health Secretary Sajid Javid told Sky News “the invasion of Ukraine has begun.”

Ukraine has said it will not concede any territory and its president told citizens not to panic in a Monday night address.