Ahead of Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to Moscow, Ukraine's first Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Emine Dzheppar said Islamabad supported Kyiv's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Pakistan's Ambassador to Ukraine Major General (retd) Noel Israel Khokhar met with Dzheppar and discussed steps to enhance bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two countries, including collaboration within the framework of United Nations, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other international organisations, according to Dzheppar's tweet on Monday.

She also said she was "grateful to Pakistan for supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity".

PM Imran Khan's visit to Moscow

The Foreign Office on Monday announced Prime Minister Imran Khan’s two-day visit to Russia from February 23 to 24, putting an end to speculations about the trip being delayed due to the opposition’s no-confidence move, as well as, the Ukraine crisis.

“At the invitation of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Imran Khan will pay an official visit to Russia on 23-24 February 2022,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including members of the Cabinet. Although, the foreign minister did not mention the names of those who will be accompanying the premier to Moscow, sources said that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, and Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar will also be part of the prime minister’s delegation.

“Pakistan and Russia enjoy friendly relations marked by mutual respect, trust and convergence of views on a range of international and regional issues,” noted the statement, adding that the bilateral summit will be the highlight of the visit.

It added, during the summit meeting the two leaders will review all matters concerning bilateral relations, including ways to cooperate on energy. They will also discuss major regional and international issues, including Islamophobia and the situation in Afghanistan, the statement added.

“The visit of the prime minister will contribute to further deepening of the multifaceted Pakistan-Russia bilateral relationship and enhancement of mutual cooperation in diverse fields,” the statement said.

A diplomatic source told this correspondent that Pakistan and Russia are expected to strike major deals during the prime minister’s two-day visit to Moscow, including an expected progress on Pakistan Stream gas pipeline.

Earlier, there were speculations that the prime minister may put off his visit to Russia due to the prevailing political situation in Pakistan after opposition political parties’ planned a no-confidence motion against him, as well as, the growing prospect of war in Ukraine.

Former premier Nawaz Sharif travelled to Moscow in 1999 for a bilateral visit after which, then president Gen Pervez Musharraf paid a “landmark” visit to Russia in 2003. Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had travelled to Moscow in November 2017 to participate in the 16th meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government (CHG) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Then president Asif Ali Zardari also visited Russia in May 2011.

Putin orders deployment of troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine after recognising them as independent on Monday, accelerating a crisis the West fears could unleash a major war.

A Reuters witness saw tanks and other military hardware moving through the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk after Putin formally recognised the breakaway regions and ordered the deployment of Russian forces to "keep the peace".

About five tanks were seen in a column on the edge of Donetsk and two more in another part of town, a Reuters reporter said. No insignia were visible on the vehicles.

Putin's announcement drew international condemnation and immediate US sanctions to halt US business activity in the breakaway regions and ban import of all goods from those areas.