- Russia recognized two separatist regions of eastern Ukraine as independent states on Monday.
- Ukraine has been fighting Kremlin-backed rebels in Donetsk and Luhansk since 2014.
- The move drew swift condemnation from the West and was seen as a pretext for war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a decree recognizing Donetsk and Luhansk, two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, as independent states, drawing swift condemnations from the West and promises of sanctions.
Putin also ordered troops into the regions for a "peacekeeping" operation, the details of which were not immediately clear. Ukraine has been fighting Kremlin-backed rebels in Donetsk and Luhansk since 2014. Russia has denied having its own troops on the ground in the regions, despite evidence of their presence.
US officials have long warned that Russia would seek a pretext to war before launching an invasion in Ukraine. Putin claimed last week, without evidence, that "genocide" was happening in the province of Donbas, where Donetsk and Luhansk are located. In 2014, Russia justified military intervention in Donbas by claiming ethnic Russians were being threatened, assertions the US adamantly denied.
In response to Putin's actions on Monday, the White House said it would move quickly to impose sanctions on the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, as well as anyone operating in those areas.