‘The beginning of a Russian invasion’
Post Reports
The Washington Post
4.4 • 5.1K Ratings
🗓️ 22 February 2022
⏱️ 21 minutes
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Summary
Today on Post Reports – did Russia just invade Ukraine? Foreign correspondent Isabelle Khurshudyan says it depends on who you ask. Plus, Michael Robinson Chavez on what it’s like reporting from the eastern front.
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On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that he is recognizing two separatist regions of Ukraine as independent. He ordered troops to “perform peacekeeping functions” in those regions – which the United States and other allies say amounts to an invasion. On Tuesday, Biden called it a “flagrant violation of international law” and announced a first round of sanctions, while saying he still hopes diplomacy is possible.
Moscow correspondent Isabelle Khurshudyan reports from eastern Ukraine on what this means for Ukrainians, and how far its allies will go to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Later in the show, we hear a harrowing story from photojournalist Michael Robinson Chavez who was reporting from the front lines in Ukraine.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | So, Isabel, we have been hearing for weeks that Russia was preparing to invade Ukraine. |
| 0:08.6 | At this point, has Russia now invaded Ukraine? |
| 0:12.0 | Yeah, I guess it depends who you ask. |
| 0:16.9 | Isabel Kurshudian is the Moscow correspondent for the post reporting from Eastern Ukraine. |
| 0:22.1 | On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared it that he is recognizing two separatist |
| 0:26.9 | regions of Ukraine as independent. |
| 0:30.6 | And he ordered in troops to, quote, unquote, perform peacekeeping functions. |
| 0:35.0 | But there's very little reason to think that those troops are there just to keep the |
| 0:38.3 | peace. |
| 0:42.1 | In footage from one of these regions in Ukraine, you can see Russian tanks rolling through |
| 0:46.5 | the streets. |
| 0:47.9 | For the U.S. and other allies of Ukraine, this escalation by Putin is considered the beginning |
| 0:53.3 | of an invasion. |
| 0:54.5 | None of us, none of us should be fooled. |
| 0:57.8 | None of us will be fooled. |
| 0:59.7 | There is no justification. |
| 1:02.8 | Further Russia to solve the Ukraine remains a severe threat in the days ahead. |
| 1:07.0 | And if Russia proceeds, it is Russia and Russia alone that bears the responsibility. |
| 1:13.8 | President Biden spoke on Tuesday afternoon. |
| 1:16.2 | He promised to police sanctions on Russian financial institutions, its debt, and Russian |
| 1:21.6 | elites and their families. |
| 1:23.8 | Biden said that these new sanctions go way beyond what was put in place in 2014 when |
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