Russia-Ukraine crisis: Kiev declares martial law as world powers condemn the seizure of ships by Putin's forces near Crimea
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Martial law was imposed in Ukraine for 30 days as president Petro Poroshenko warned of the “extremely serious” threat of a Russian land invasion.
The parliament voted in favour of the measure on Monday night in response to the capture of three Ukrainian navy vessels and twenty-three crew members by Russian ships near the Kerch Strait.
Russia’s actions were also condemned at emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, where US representative Nikki Haley described the incident as an “outrageous violation of sovereign Ukrainian territory.”
The secretary-general of Nato, Jens Stoltenberg, also said there was “no justification” for the seizure of the Ukrainian ships and sailors.
Meanwhile there there violent protests in Kiev and demonstrations outside Russian embassies across the world, including in London, Washington DC and Brussels.
It marked an escalation of tensions that have soared since Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and backed a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine said its vessels were heading to the Sea of Azov in line with international maritime rules, while Russia charged that they had failed to obtain a permission to pass through the Kerch Strait separating Crimea from the Russian mainlan
It is the only passage between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It is spanned by a 11.8 mile bridge that Russia completed this year.
While a 2003 treaty designates the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov as shared territorial waters, Russia has sought to assert greater control over the passage since the annexation of Crimea.
The seizure of the Ukrainian ships followed a tense situation in which the three Ukrainian vessels were manoeuvring near the Kerch Strait for hours shadowed by Russian coast guard boats.
Following the capture of the Ukrainian ships on Sunday, Russia closed the Kerch Strait for sea traffic by positioning a tanker under the bridge spanning it. It reopened the route early Monday.
If you want to read how the situation developed, please read our live coverage below.
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The UN Security Council is now discussing the situation in Ukraine. A live feed of proceedings is available here
US representative Nikki Haley described the incident as "yet another reckless violation" by Russia.
It followed a statement from the representative of the Russian Federation, who claimed it was a "pre-planned provocation" by Ukraine.
While Donald Trump has not yet commented on the crisis, the US representative told the UN Security Council she had talked to the president and her statement "reflects the concerns at the highest levels of the US government."
Ms Haley described Russia's actions as a violation of international law and an "arrogant act that the international community must condemn and will never accept".
Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg has called on Russia to release Ukrainian navy ships and sailors after saying there is "no justification" for Russia's actions.
"What we saw yesterday was very serious," he told a news conference. "All allies expressed full support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
"There is no justification for the use of military force against Ukrainian ships and naval personnel so we call on Russia to release immediately the Ukrainian sailors and ships it seized yesterday."
The UK representative to the UN Security Council referred to the Salisbury novichok attack in his statement condemning Russia's "deplorable use of military force... and contempt for the rules-based international system".
"These are not the actions of a responsible country," he adds.
Reports that party leaders are concluding negotiations with party leaders. If they have agreed, expect a vote in the next 20-30 mins or so.
↵Here is the Ukrainian president's statement in English on the introduction of martial law from 9am on 28 November.
He says martial law will end in mid-December, adding: "Martial law does not mean the declaration of war. It is introduced solely for the purpose of strengthening Ukraine's defense against the background of growing aggressiveness from Russia."
Ukraine's representative to the UN Security Council is now giving his statement. He begins by referring to an incident on 26 November 1939 when Soviet Russia orchestrated an incident near the Finnish border as a pretext for an invasion, known as the "Winter War."
Russia's representative compares the discussion at the UN security council as akin to "finding a black cat in a dark room".
He adds: 'You are condemning a Russian act of aggression but you are not talking about why we met for this meeting." He again describes the incident as "a gross act of provocation" by Ukraine.
The meeting has now adjourned. Meanwhile Ukraine's parliament is now back in session to discuss the details of the proposed imposition martial law.
Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt has issued a further statement condemning "Russia's aggression against the Ukrainian vessels."
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