The United States and its allies unveiled more sanctions against Russia,Wednesday over its recognition of 2 separatist areas in eastern Ukraine, while making clear they were keeping tougher measures in reserve in case of a full-scale invasion by Moscow.   

European Union sanctions to take effect on Wednesday adds all members of Russia’s lower house of parliament who voted to recognize the separatist regions in Ukraine to a blacklist, freezing their assets and banning travel.   
Britain followed United States in announcing new restrictions banning Russia from the issuing of new bonds in its security markets.   

The steps follow measures announced on Tuesday, including freezing the approval of a new Russian gas pipeline by Germany, and imposing new U.S. sanctions on Russian banks.   

Western countries fear Russia plans a full-blown invasion of Ukraine after Putin announced on Monday he was recognizing two small breakaway regions controlled since 2014 by separatists. Putin also signed a decree allowing Russian forces to be deployed there.   

Washington has described Russia’s actions as the start of an “invasion” but because the massed military assault they predicted has not materialized yet, they have had to calibrate their response.Meanwhile western leaders have faced criticism at home for the response so far. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was ridiculed in parliament when he announced the blacklisting of 3 billionaires already under U.S. sanctions for years, and 5 obscure banks. Leaders say the most serious sanctions must be held in reserve to deter a larger assault.   
MOSCOW/DONETSK, Feb 23 Reuters   

Ukraine declares state of emergency

Ukraine declared a state of emergency on Wednesday and told its citizens in Russia to flee, while Moscow began evacuating its Kyiv embassy in the latest ominous signs for Ukrainians who fear an all-out Russian military onslaught.It took down flags from its embassy in Kyiv, having ordered its diplomats to evacuate for safety reasons.
In addition to the 30-day state of emergency, the Ukrainian’s government has announced compulsory military service for all men of fighting age. Ukraine’s parliament, cabinet and foreign ministry websites were down.

Government websites have experienced several outages in recent weeks, which Kyiv has blamed on cyber attacks.

Pope says threat of war in Ukraine causes ‘pain in my heart’

Pope Francis said, Wednesday that the threat of war in Ukraine caused “great pain in my heart” and condemned actions “destabilizing coexistence among nations and discrediting international law”.   

Francis, speaking in a sombre tone at the end of his weekly general audience, also urged politicians to make “a serious examination of conscience before God” about the effects of their actions.   

He proclaimed Ash Wednesday, on March 2 this year, as an international day of fasting and prayer for peace. He condemned the “diabolic senselessness of violence” and asked the Madonna, “the queen of peace, to save the world from the madness of war”.   
VATICAN CITY, Feb 23 Reuters