Global security architecture collapses as Russia attacks Ukraine - FM

Zbigniew Rau, the Polish foreign minister, warned that Russia's recognition of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine can undermine the international "security architecture."

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday recognising the self-declared 'people's republics' of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine as independent states, and there are now reports that Russian troops have entered eastern Ukraine.

Speaking at Nato's headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday, where the bloc held consultations following Putin's move, Rau said that Russia's decision was a violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Reporting on his talks with Nato's secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, Rau said the two had discussed an immediate response from Nato to the new situation and ways of adapting the Nato structure to the changing situation.

According to Rau, Nato should strengthen its deterrence capability on the bloc's eastern flank.

"It is yet another dramatic departure from the principles of international law, including of course yet another violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity," Rau said.

"We have agreed that this, in combination with military pressure on Ukraine, can lead to the collapse of the current security architecture not only in Eastern Europe, but also around Nato's eastern flank," Rau continued.