Putin orders Russian troops into eastern Ukraine
Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to enter the Russian-controlled areas of southeast Ukraine following a decision to recognise the territories as independent states.
Late Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops into eastern Ukraine, confirming the White House’s long-held fears of an invasion. The announcement comes just days after the Kremlin recognized the independence of two eastern Ukrainian territories controlled by Russian-backed separatists, the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic.
The decision to dispatch his troops to perform “peacekeeping duties” will be viewed in Ukraine and by other western allies as an occupation of the region and likely trigger tough sanctions and a Ukrainian military response.
The deployment was revealed in the text of two treaty documents that Putin signed with the leaders of the separatist republics on Tuesday.
Following the decision to recognize the territories as independent states, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to enter the Russian-controlled areas of southeast Ukraine.
The decision to send troops to perform “peacekeeping duties” will be interpreted as an occupation of the region in Ukraine and by other Western allies, and will almost certainly result in tough sanctions and a Ukrainian military response.
The deployment was revealed in the text of two treaties signed by Putin on Tuesday with the leaders of the separatist republics.
In its decrees, Moscow described Monday’s dramatic escalation as “peacekeeping functions.” The targeted regions are home to approximately 800,000 Russians, and Putin claimed last week, without providing evidence, that Ukraine committed “genocide” in the areas. “It was unclear whether Russian troops would remain only on the territory controlled by the separatist republics, or whether they would seek to capture the rest of the two Ukrainian regions whose territory they claim,” said a source.
