♪ >> this is dw news live from berlin, russia faces down worldwide combination as it escalates the crisis in ukraine. u.s. president joe biden announces a string of sanctions targeting russian banks and oligarchs. he warns that the russian invasion of ukraine is beginning. vladimir putin says the minsk peace process is finished, and blames ukraine that he signals

forces could push farther into ukrainian territory. within the ukraine there is both shock and growing anger from the growing incursion. we will bring you the latest. >> i am michael, welcome. we began with the latest over the escalating crisis in ukraine. over the last hour the president joe biden -- the u.s. president joe biden has announced sanctions on russia over ukraine. it follows a string of punitive actions from european leaders. it will target russian banks and oligarchs and moscow's access to financing. >> today i am announcing the

first response to impose costs on russia in response to their actions today. closely -- continuing to escalate sanctions if russia escalate. full blocking sanctions on to large russian institutions. we are implementing comprehensive sanctions on russian sovereign debt, they can no longer raise money from the west and cannot trade its new debt on our markets or european art is either. starting tomorrow and continuing the days ahead we will also impose sanctions on russia's elites and their family members. they share in the corrupt gangs -- gains of the kremlin's policies and should share the pain as well. we will ensure nord stream 2, will not, as i promised, will not move forward.

michael: oliver joins me from washington, what remake of the u.s. presidents response? guest: very strong condemnation. he called vladimir putin's actions a flagrant violation of international law and referred to a speech yesterday that biden believes putin will go much farther. we might see a major military attack on all of ukraine and also -- he also questioned the ukrainian right to exist. what president biden, and the last days and weeks announced was that there would be sanctions following russian troops going into ukraine and invading ukraine. this is what we heard today, blocking to russian financials the duchenne's, cutting -- institutions, cutting them off from the debt market.

targeting russian elites, families, and this is the first time president biden spoke about the oligarchs and their connection to vladimir putin. it is also important to point out there will be more and can be more should vladimir putin decide to escalate the situation further. michael: what are people saying about how much of an impact the sanctions will have? >> that is really the big question, because this is not a surprise for vladimir putin. for russia, they have had a lot of time to think about exactly this question. it is a first step, a dramatic one, russia sees now that they have to pay a price for their actions. it also leaves the door open for vladimir putin. there are more sanctions to come, only if putin decides he wants to attack ukraine further, moving his troops beyond the separatist controlled areas.

there is still a chance for him to steer back or decide for a diplomatic path. the u.s. expectation is not as optimistic anymore. the problem is, of course, the vladimir putin might have affected all that in already. michael: how likely is the u.s. government to launch further measures against russia? i suppose it has a lot to do with what russia does. guest: that is just right. it really depends what will happen next. keep in mind there will be no military intervention. ukraine is not a nato member. we are talking about further sanctions. will russia move their troops beyond the separatist controlled areas? will it be a full fledged invasion? will russia attacked kyiv? all those questions are circularly right now. no matter what they do, there will be no military actions taken.

the measures out -- that the united states and nato partners have are limited. the concern is that belarus might be integrated into the russian federation, even further and stronger applications for the months and years to follow. michael: european union 2.0, and you -- thank you. earlier vladimir putin raised the stakes saying he knows -- now recognizes the territory of to break it to -- breakaway republics as independent. after recognizing the donetsk and luhansk territories. they could be pushing their forces forward. here is what vladimir putin had to say.

>> we recognize the republics, which means we recognize all their founding documents including the constitution. the constitution defines the orders of their regions at the time when they were part of ukraine. we hope, and i emphasizes, that all the contentious issues will be resolved in negotiations between authorities and give and -- kyiv and the leaders of the republics. we understand that this is not possible because hostilities are continuing their and could intensify. michael: dw correspondent is in eastern ukraine, explained to us the significance of this latest announcement by the russian president. guest: this of course raises the stakes and makes the russian

incursion much more probable than if he had contented himself to the actual borders of these controlled territories, these separatist controlled territories. these self-proclaimed republics control a third or a fourth of the territories of these two districts of ukraine, including both district capitals and some areas around. vast parts of these districts are under ukrainian government control. he now makes claims to these territories. this makes military action to gain control of these territories more probable. there has been some confusion about this yesterday. however this is not unexpected and as we heard yesterday putin basically crane -- claims the whole of ukraine is russia. michael: how are people taking it in the donetsk region??

>> we have seen an escalation of violence in the past five days in the lead up to this decision. mostly what we have seen is shelling from the separatist side into villages controlled by the ukrainian army and military posts. a lot of cilian villages as well. people are scared of an escalation, have been scared of an escalation for some time. it makes it even more probable that the escalation will come and it will happen here in this area. today i went to one of these villages and the people have been basically sitting in their basement for five days now. they are scared of what is happening. many people are escaping. right now most people are escaping from the frontline villages that are being felt. all -- shelled.

70 kilometers from the line, fear is growing. michael: fear, scared, no doubt looking to see how the government is reacting. q tells how the government is responded to the threat from russia? guest: up until now the ukrainian government has been very measured and restrained. they have said it does not make sense to them, the territories are ukrainian by international law and they will not see these territories, they are trying to not to contribute to the escalation. the shelling's, according to the assessment of the ukrainian government, the schelling had the purpose of luring ukraine into a response that could be used as a pretense for big incursion -- 48 incursion.

attacks from the separatist side and the russian army that is now stationed there, will now increase the ukrainian army that is stationed all along this line lacked. michael: many thanks. dw has been speaking to people on the streets of kyiv to get their response to the latest russian move. >> we are really afraid about our democracy, country, freedom. really hope that russia will stop. regarding it, we think lots of restrictions should be done before it is all completed. try to show our -- outward that we are a really good country and deserve to be free. >> we are living in a hard time for ukraine.

a lot of people are experiencing fear every day, going to bed and waking up, we do not know exactly where we are going to be in danger. when kyiv will be in real danger for us. >> appreciating our culture and history, every day is a fight for us to survive another day, and a united country. michael: he is head of the ukraine form at the policy think and how such adam house, what was your reaction to vladimir putin's speech last night where he questioned ukraine's right to statehood? >> last night, the prudence addressed to the russian nation was very much and line with the qui-historical essay he issued last summer. he said ukraine was an artificial state that was created by puppet regimes.

it is in line denying ukrainian statehood and it is not a real country. it is quite humiliating for the thousand-year-old history of ukine and i think, was in the way, a quasi-declaration of war on the ukrainian state. michael: he is essentially saying ukraine is not legitimate, at the same time acknowledging, excepting, embracing the existence of these breakaway republics as independent states. what do you make a logic there? >> the lic is, of course, ukraine exists only as an extension of russian civilization. it can only exist in full coheree with russian governance, tussian autoatic autocracy, or if it

rebels against these kinds of values it is being manipulated by united states, poland, hungarian you name it. he says that if their canyons love russia, -- the ukrainians love russia, they are truly canyons -- true ukrainians. honestly, i think russia keeps full deployment around ukraine's border. it has made crossing into ukrainian territory into the east unobstructed, because the border is being controlled by russia at that point. i imagine the deployment will continue and we may see russian troops well move into closer proximity to existing line of conflict between right now currently guarded by the proxy

groups and ukrainian armed forces. michael: are you saying regardless of how this unravels under the coming days and weeks, that you see a permanent deployment of russian troops in ukraine? >> absolutely. they are already preparing to build military bases. this was signed in the agreement of the treaty with the quasi-republics that putin would permit russia to permanently station its troops similar to what is happing in belarus. toy we are hearing russians are not retreating from belarus and continue to threaten the capital of ukraine from the north. michael: really appreciate your time and perspective. many ukrainians are preparing to defend their country. some are ordinary fathers and mothers. others are veterans who have already fought against separatist in the east and are determined to resist any further

invasion. >> the instructor is explaining how to pull the trigger. he is holding a gun for the first time. ivan wants to be prepared in case russia starts a full-fledged invasion. >> i feel responsible for myself, my family, i have to know how to defe them. >> according to recent -- opinion polls, -- over half 12 resistance stay with arms and if war breaks out russia. these ukrainians want to let the world know they are not afraid, and want to be prepared in case their own government is no longer able to provide for their safety. >> after the violent crackdown of pro-european protest in --

gun sales started to mushroom. >> i hope this business will continue to bring in a profit, but only with shooting as a sport and not to prepare for war. >> anton needs to be prepared. and military veteran, he expects to be recalled any time now to serve on the frontline. >> no one wants to get back on war. if you are mentally, normal person, i want to fighso my son will live in a free country. it is important to me. >> it is a difficult time for both anton and his wife. >> everyone has a choice and this is his choice. >> what choice do i have, actually? to give my son live under the slavery of russians? i am not saying they would enslave him, but he would live

in different country. i want him to know his father would make everything so that would not happen. >> russia has always said it does not plan to invade ukraine, and there are ukrainians that still believe a peaceful solution to this crisis can still be found. as weeks of uncertainty go on, more customers are learning how to shoot and arming themselves. ivan wants to bond -- by a gun, but hopes he never has to use it. michael: nato has condemned the escalation of the crisis over ukraine, russia's recognition of two breakaway regions as independent states. the alliances secretary general has described it as the most chain dress moment in a generation. he says russia has not stopped planning for a full-scale invasion of ukraine and warned

against ongoing provocations in the country. he said nato would continue to provide ukraine with strong political support. >> this is a crisis created by russia alone. we commend ukraine for its restraint and not responding to russia's repeated provocations. we stand in solidarity with the ukrainian people and is government. allies are united in its full support in ukraine's sovereignty and integrity within its nationally recognized borders. michael: the 27 european union member states have agreed on a initial sense -- set of sanctions targeting russia. the measures will affect members of parliament and other individuals in deploying troops and the package will hurt russia. >> the grave violations russia

has committed will not go unanswered. they will not go in and -- unanswered. we are strongly united on this front. and we will raise the level of stations -- sanctions substantially according with russian behavior. many question marks are depending on this creek a moment. michael: ross's -- russia's escalation has brought a flood of combination from western leaders. recognizing two breakaway regions as breakaway states have prompted sanctions. the toughest may be halting the north -- nord stream 2 gas line pipeline project. it still needed the go-ahead from german -- that has been

suspended indefinitely. >> on his way to announcing a key foreign policy decision, to halt the highly controversial nord stream 2 pipeline in response to russia's recognition of two separate regions in ukraine. >> the situation today is fundamentally different, therefore in view of the latest of elements -- developments we have to reassess the situation in regards to nord stream 2. >> it aim to transport russian gas directly to germany under e balkan cy -- s. its construction was finished and pending wrigley tory approval. -- regulatory approval. it has very -- plenty of very vocal enemies. ukraine for a start, it undercuts its own pipelines. the u.s. and various eu

countries, concerned it would give russia to much power and leave your vulnerable -- europe vulnerable. those countries welcome this decision calling it morally, politically, practically correct. big words of support to the german chancellor who had previously been criticized for being too vague on the nord stream 2 pipeline. michael: poland is preparing for the possibility of mass arrivals of refugees from neighboring ukraine. the polish government said up to a million people could seek shelter and are setting up reception so -- facilities. >> after a 10 hour drive from kiev she is ready to unpack her suitcases in the monastery. it is just 10 kilometers from the ukrainian border. she came here with her two

daughters as well as her brother and sister. she does not want her children to experience the horrors of war. >> i received a message from my daughters school. is said the basement was ready with running water, food, toys, like it's -- blankets. the children could be safe there for five days if anything happened. that is when i realized how serious the situation is. >> she is worried about an attack by russian troops so she thought shelter at -- salt shelter at the monastery. at first you plan to stay a, hoping to return soon. the city has a school for the ukrainian minority. if russia does invade ukraine, she will be able to register her daughters at the school.

[speaking foreign language] the school's principal and all the teachers speak polish and ukrainian. it would definitely be easy to communicate these children. and i think it would certainly be a substitute for their homeland. thousands of ukrainians live here and over a million now live in poland. many fled to the western neighbor after a war broke out in don bosse and they have been welcomed as mostly low-wage workers. the migrants have led to mixed reactions, especially due to their history of conflict.

>> they killed us before, i have no love for them, that if they need help we have to help them. >> everybody is afraid of this war because we do not know what impact it may have. it could lead to an ample -- an influx of migrants. >> i would not offer them a room, but i would give them some room -- food. i live alone so i would be afraid. >> i often go to the ukrainian dentist because his prices are good and i have never been disappointed. i cannot say today if i would help them. >> she hopes there will not be war or a wave of refugees. she views her own trip of -- to poland as a type of life insurance. >> we buy health insurance, or car insurance and hope we do not need it. coming here, is like insurance

for our children. we really hope, we do not need this insurance. >> now she plans to stay in poland until she is certain that it is safe to return home. michael: as western governments prepare sanctions against russia, european football governing body is facing criticism for keeping the champion leagues final in st. petersburg. vladimir welcomed them to sing spielberg after was chosen three years ago. they are monitoring the situation, but not planning to change the venue. boris johnson said that is inconceivable that major football tournaments can take place in russia. you're watching dw news, here is

a reminder of the top story we are following for you. u.s. president joe biden says he is imposing sanctions on russia, targeting financial is a duchenne's. moscow's access to financial markets. russia started an invasion of ukraine and described the recognition of two separatist regions in eastern ukraine as a breach of international law. this is dw news live from her len, i -- up next i will be back with news of the day. thank you for watching.

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♪ it is here in the french capital. you are watching "live from paris." the u.s. unveils a first round of sanctions against russia following vladimir putin's decision to order trips to breakaway territories in eastern ukraine controlled russian-back separatists. on the ground, violence escalating in eastern ukraine, with fresh shelling reported on the line of control separating rebel-held areas from the rest of the country.