Putin Recognizes Ukraine Rebel Regions, Orders Russian Military to Conduct 'Peacekeeping Operations'

What’s the latest?

• Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced Monday that Russia will recognize two self-proclaimed “republics” in eastern Ukraine ― the Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR or DPR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR or LPR) ― as independent. The move is a dramatic escalation of tensions in the region and may serve as a prelude to a further invasion of Ukraine by Russia, as Putin also ordered the Russian military to conduct “peacekeeping operations” in the breakaway regions he recognized. 
• The Donetsk and Luhansk areas are part of a broader region of eastern Ukraine known as the Donbas, which has been in a state of war between Russian-backed separatists and Ukraine’s government since 2014 when the Russian military launched an incursion into the region and annexed Crimea. Over 14,000 people in the region have been killed since the conflict began. Amid Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine’s border, there has been a dramatic uptick in ceasefire violations by the Russian-backed separatists along the frontlines. About two-thirds of the Donbas is controlled by the government Ukraine, with the remaining one-third controlled by the separatists.
• In a speech announcing his recognition of the DNR and LNR, Putin said the separation of Ukraine and Russia under the Soviet Union was a mistake. Putin said it was “madness” that the former Soviet republics like Ukraine gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a sentiment he expressed in a July 2021 manifesto on the subject. He also repeated false claims that Ukraine is conducting a “genocide” in the Donbas against ethnic Russians; accused Ukraine of several attacks and incidents that are suspected of being staged by Russia as “false flags” to justify a military intervention; and claimed that Ukraine is preparing a military offensive in the area despite Russia’s own buildup of 150,000 troops ― plus up to 40,000 separatists and mercenaries ― on Ukraine’s borders.
• Putin’s announcement sparked condemnation by the U.S., the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and Ukraine.
• Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with President Joe Biden about the announcement by Russia and added that he will be meeting with his National Security and Defense Council. He will also speak to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson later today and is expected to deliver a national address later on Monday.
• White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki released a statement which said President Biden will impose sanctions on efforts to do business in the self-declared separatist states: 

“President Biden will soon issue an Executive Order banning investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine. This E.O. will also provide authority to impose sanctions on any person determined to operate in those areas of Ukraine… To be clear: these measures are separate from and would be in addition to the swift and severe economic measures we have been preparing in coordination with Allies and partners should Russia further invade Ukraine.”

• NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg released a statement condemning Putin’s announcement and urging Russia to de-escalate its military buildup in and around Ukraine:

“I condemn Russia’s decision to extend recognition to the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic” and “Luhansk People’s Republic”. This further undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, erodes efforts towards a resolution of the conflict, and violates the Minsk Agreements, to which Russia is a party… Moscow continues to fuel the conflict in eastern Ukraine by providing financial and military support to the separatists. It is also trying to stage a pretext to invade Ukraine once again. NATO supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. Allies urge Russia, in the strongest possible terms, to choose the path of diplomacy, and to immediately reverse its massive military build-up in and around Ukraine, and withdraw its forces from Ukraine in accordance with its international obligations and commitments.”

The original article appears below.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced he will recognize two self-proclaimed "republics" in eastern Ukraine - Donetsk (DPR) and Luhansk (LPR) - as independent.

Russian-backed separatists have been battling Ukrainian government forces in the Donbas region since 2014. The Ukrainian government in Kyiv refuses to talk directly with either breakaway separatist group.

Putin informed French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz of his intended move late Monday:

"Today, the leadership of the DPR and LPR received appeals to recognize their sovereignty in connection with the military aggression of the Ukrainian authorities, the massive shelling of the territory of Donbas, as a result of which the civilian population is suffering," the Kremlin statement said.

Recognition of the rebel-held areas could provide a pretext for Russian troops to enter the territory.

This is an ongoing story and will be updated.

For more information on the military escalation, click here.