Ukraine wants peace but won't give up its land to Russia, president says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks during the annual Munich Security Conference, in Munich, Germany February 19, 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russia of wrecking peace efforts and ruled out making any territorial concessions in an address to the nation in the early hours of Tuesday.

Zelenskiy spoke after Russia's decision to formally recognise two Moscow-backed regions of eastern Ukraine as independent and send troops to the region, accelerating a crisis that the West fears could unleash a major war.

He called for an emergency summit of the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France while urging Ukraine's allies to take action against Russia.

A Reuters witness saw unusually large columns of military hardware moving through the breakaway city of Donetsk after Russian President Vladimir Putin told Russia's defence ministry to send forces into the two regions to "keep the peace".

Russia's actions drew U.S. and European condemnation and vows of new sanctions although it was not immediately clear whether the Russian military action would be regarded by the West as the start of a fullscale invasion. The area was already controlled by Russian-backed separatists and Moscow in practice.

Zelenskiy's administration has voiced frustration at the West's unwillingness to impose preemptive sanctions after Russia massed more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine's borders in recent weeks.

"We expect clear and effective steps of support from our partners," Zelenskiy said. "It is very important to see who is our real friend and partner, and who will continue to scare the Russian Federation with words."

Source: Reuters Reporting by Pavel Polityuk, Maria Tsvetkova, Matthias Williams; Editing by Lincoln Feast.