Breaking News….
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered peacekeeping troops into Ukraine.
“President Vladimir Putin ordered his defense ministry to despatch Russian peacekeepers to eastern Ukraine’s two breakaway regions, according to a decree published early on Tuesday after he said Moscow would recognize their independence.
Putin earlier signed decrees to recognize the two breakaway regions — the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic — as independent statelets defying Western warnings that such a step would be illegal and kill off long-running peace negotiations.”
This follows Putin recognizing two separatist territories of Ukraine as sovereign entities.
“Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and paved the way to provide them military support — triggering threatened new sanctions from the U.S. and Europe and further fueling fears that Russia could imminently invade Ukraine.
The carefully scripted Kremlin announcement flew in the face of European efforts for a diplomatic solution to the escalating crisis, which has brought East-West relations to a new low and jeopardized trade. U.S., British and EU officials called it a breach of international law.”
UPDATE: President Biden spoke with Ukraine President Zelenskyy. The White House provided the following readout:
“President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine to reaffirm the commitment of the United States to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. President Biden strongly condemned Russian President Putin’s decision to purportedly recognize the “independence” of the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine. He updated President Zelenskyy on the United States’ response, including our plan to issue sanctions. President Biden reiterated that the United States would respond swiftly and decisively, in lock-step with its Allies and partners, to further Russian aggression against Ukraine.”
This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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