Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned he would acknowledge the independence of two Russian-led breakaway areas of Ukraine, a transfer that threatened to scuttle negotiations with the West over the longer term safety of Japanese Europe and that might be used to justify an incursion into the territories.
“The scenario in Donbas is changing into essential,” Mr. Putin mentioned in a reside televised deal with earlier than launching right into a prolonged examination of the connection between the 2 international locations and the Donbas area, the place the 2 breakaway areas are positioned. “Ukraine isn’t just a neighbor. It’s an inherent a part of our personal historical past, tradition and non secular house,” he mentioned.
