Putin Orders Troops into Eastern Ukraine on ‘Peacekeeping Duties’

THE GUARDIAN: Russian deployment follows decision to recognise territories in south-east will be viewed in Ukraine and by other western allies as an occupation

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.

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.

The third article of the treaties provided for the “implementation of peacekeeping functions by the armed forces of the Russian Federation” in the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, which Ukraine and most of the world views at its sovereign territory. With video » | Andrew Roth in Moscow and Julian Borger in Washington | Monday, February 21, 2022