Putin's announcement drew international condemnation and immediate U.S. sanctions to halt U.S. business activity in the breakaway regions and ban import of all goods from those areas
This comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement that he is putting Russian troops in separatist areas of eastern Ukraine as 'peacekeepers'
Deployment of what Russia called a peacekeeping operation in eastern Ukraine is nonsense and Moscow's recognition of the breakaway regions as independent is part of its pretext for war, said US to UN.
Condemning Putin's decision to recognise Donetsk and Luhansk as independent, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday stated it a clear attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
This comes at a time when there is a massive military build-up along the border of Ukraine and the West has expressed their worries over the possible invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Putin described Ukraine as an integral part of Russia's history, with eastern Ukraine made up of ancient Russian lands, and he was confident the Russian people would support his decision.
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Russian President Putin on Monday recognised the independence of Moscow-backed rebel regions in eastern Ukraine, a move that will further fuel tensions with the West amid fears of Russian invasion.
'Any assets they hold in the UK will be frozen and the indivuals concerned will be banned from travelling here,' UK PM said of the individuals being sanctioned
Russian leader's decision brings swift promises of new sanctions from the US and other Western nations.
Ukrainian authorities deny launching an offensive and accuse Russia of provocation amid intensifying shelling along the line of contact
With all eyes on a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is sending his top security envoy to the Balkans where Moscow has been trying to maintain influence
Russian President Vladimir Putin convened top officials Monday to consider recognising the independence of Russia-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine.
Kyiv calls Russian allegation 'fake news'; Ukraine and West on alert for Russia creating pretext to invade
The White House said in a statement that Biden had accepted the meeting "in principle" but only "if an invasion hasn't happened"
Biden's administration has prepared an initial package of sanctions against Russia that includes barring US financial institutions from processing transactions for major Russian banks, said reports.
Russia's Vladimir Putin in his telephone conversation with French President Macron on Sunday stressed the need for the US and NATOmust respond to Russia's security guarantees demands seriously.
US President Joe Biden held a meeting of the National Security Council over the situation around Ukraine on Sunday, the White House said.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration has been clear that we are committed to pursuing diplomacy until the moment an invasion begins.
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