(Dan Tri) – President Vladimir Putin’s sending of `peacekeeping` forces to Eastern Ukraine after recognizing the independence of two separatist regions has raised questions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (Photo: Sputnik).
Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 21 ordered the Russian army to enter areas controlled by separatists in Eastern Ukraine to carry out a `peacekeeping` mission.
It is unclear whether Russia’s deployment of `peacekeeping forces` into Eastern Ukraine marks the beginning of tough action as Western leaders have been warning about for weeks.
At an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the evening of February 21, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that Mr. Putin’s statement about Russian forces entering Eastern Ukraine was
The decrees signed by President Putin with the leaders of two separatist regions recognized the Donetsk People’s Republic and the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic (DPR and LPR) in the Donbass region, Eastern Ukraine as `independent states`.
A Reuters witness saw military convoys, including tanks, appearing on the outskirts of Donetsk early on the morning of February 22, after Putin announced the dispatch of peacekeeping forces to Eastern Ukraine.
Tougher move?
Soldiers exercise in Ukraine (Photo: Reuters).
After the decree recognizing the independence of the two separatist regions, the tough statements of the Russian leader, the presence of thousands of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border and the assessments of US intelligence and officials, the scenario
Russia is said to have supported the separatists in Eastern Ukraine in many ways, including supporting financial aid, providing Covid-19 vaccines and issuing at least 800,000 Russian passports to people here.
Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said Russia’s recognition of the independence of the two separatist regions was intended to protect Russian speakers in Donetsk and Lugansk from what he considered Ukraine’s aggression.
It is unclear what will happen on the ground in areas recognized by Russia as independent in the coming days.
President Putin is probably the only one who knows what will happen next.
