Putin orders Russian forces to "perform peacekeeping functions" in eastern Ukraine's breakaway regions
Russian President Vladimir Putin signs documents, including a decree recognising two Russian-backed breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent entities, during a ceremony in Moscow, Russia, in this picture released February 21, 2022. Sputnik/Alexey Nikolsky/Kremlin via REUTERS
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com
MOSCOW, Feb 22 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin ordered his defence ministry to despatch Russian forces to "perform peacekeeping functions" in eastern Ukraine's two breakaway regions, according to a decree published early on Tuesday after he said Moscow would recognise their independence.
Putin earlier signed decrees to recognise the two breakaway regions -- the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic -- as independent statelets defying Western warnings that such a step would be illegal and kill off long-running peace negotiations. read more
(This story refiles to clarify text of Putin order)
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.