Russia-Ukraine crisis: Viktor Orbán convenes National Security Cabinet

The meeting will be attended by PM Orbán, his cabinet chief Antal Rogán, Gergely Gulyás, minister helming the Prime Minister's Office, Minister of Defence Tibor Benkő and Minister of the Interior Sándor Pintér.

Bertalan Havasi, the head of the PM's Press Office, told state newswire MTI, that further information will be given later.

Late on Monday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán posted this on his Facebook page:

"Tonight I had a telephone conversation with the President of the European Council on the situation in eastern Ukraine.

I made it clear that Hungary is part of the common EU position.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó posted this on Facebook on Tuesday morning:

"Following last night's developments, the preparation of sanctions measures in Brussels has now been accelerated and discussions on possible steps are ongoing. Hungary has never broken EU unity on this issue. In parallel, we must not give up our last remaining hope for a diplomatic solution."

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered troops into two rebel-held regions in eastern Ukraine, after recognising them as independent states. Russia said the troops would engage in "peacekeeping" in the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics.

The two breakaway regions are home to Russian-backed rebels who have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014.

The West rails against Russia's move

Russia's move has been condemned by a series of Western leaders, with US President Joe Biden signing the first sanctions order to halt U.S. business activity in the breakaway regions and ban import of all goods from those areas.

A senior U.S. official said the deployment to breakaway enclaves did not yet constitute a "further invasion" that would trigger the harshest sanctions as Russia already had forces there, but that a wider campaign could come at any time, Reuters reported. The White House said it would announce further measures on Tuesday.

Vladimir Putin's decision was immediately followed by a call for a meeting of the UN Security Council, which Russia chairs. On Tuesday morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has already reassured the Ukrainian people in a video message, while also saying that Ukraine would not give up its territories.

Reuters has collected key quotes from world leaders condemning Putin's actions:

We are committed to the peaceful and diplomatic path, we will follow it and only it. But we are on our own land, we are not afraid of anything and anybody, we owe nothing to no one, and we will give nothing to no one,

said Ukrainian President Volodymy Zelenskiy.

"We expect clear and effective steps of support from our partners.

"It is very important to see who is our real friend and partner, and who will continue to scare the Russian Federation with words."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel "condemn in the strongest possible terms the decision by the Russian President to proceed with the recognition of the non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine as independent entities.

This step is a blatant violation of international law as well as of the Minsk agreements. The Union will react with sanctions against those involved in this illegal act.

"The Union reiterates its unwavering support to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders," they said in a statement.

"President Putin's recognition of the "Donetsk People's Republic" and "Luhansk People's Republic" as independent states shows

flagrant disregard for Russia's commitments under the Minsk agreements. This step ... signals an end to the Minsk process,

said British Foreign Minister Liz Truss.

"It demonstrates Russia's decision to choose a path of confrontation over dialogue. We will coordinate our response with allies. We will not allow Russia's violation of its international commitments to go unpunished."

"We have anticipated a move like this from Russia and are ready to respond immediately," said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.

"President Biden will soon issue an Executive Order that will prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine. This E.O. will also provide authority to impose sanctions on any person determined to operate in those areas of Ukraine. 

These measures are separate from and would be in addition to the swift and severe economic measures we have been preparing in coordination with Allies and partners should Russia further invade Ukraine.

"Moscow continues to fuel the conflict in eastern Ukraine by providing financial and military support to the separatists. It is also trying to stage a pretext to invade Ukraine once again," said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. 

This further undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, erodes efforts towards a resolution of the conflict, and violates the Minsk Agreements, to which Russia is a party.

"These actions violate Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, violate international law and are utterly unacceptable," said Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno.

"Canada, with its partners and allies, will react firmly to this blatant disregard for international law," said Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly.

We are preparing to impose economic sanctions for these actions, separate from those prepared to respond to any further military invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

"The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine must be respected. We must actively seek a peaceful solution through dialogue," said South Korean President Moon Jae-In.

"It is never desirable for the Ukraine crisis to deteriorate into an armed conflict, which runs counter to the expectations of the international community.

"It would have a huge political and economic impact, not only in Europe, but also around the world."

"The Australian Government condemns President Putin's declaration today that the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine are independent states," said Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne.

This flagrantly undermines Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and has no validity under international law. We also condemn President Putin's announcement that Russia is deploying so-called “peacekeepers” to eastern Ukraine. These personnel are not peacekeepers.

"The Australian Government is coordinating closely with the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and other governments around the world to ensure there are severe costs for Russia's aggression. Along with our partners, we are prepared to announce swift and severe sanctions that would target key Russian individuals and entities responsible for undermining Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

"All parties concerned must exercise restraint, and avoid any action that may fuel tensions," said China's U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun.

"The decision of Russia to recognise the Donetsk and Luhansk Republics amounts to a clear violation of not only the Minsk agreements, but also Ukraine's political unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity," said the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

"We find Russia's so-called decision to be unacceptable and reject it."