Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued an order for the Russian military to “preserve the peace” in the breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine.
The deployment of Russian forces in eastern Ukraine has been reported by several media, including Reuters, AFP, and AP, as well as German and Russian media.
According to AFP, Putin has – in two different decrees – instructed the Russian Ministry of Defense to take on the task of preserving peace. The so-called peacekeeping mission will take place in the rebel-held regions of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, which Putin earlier Monday recognized as independent states.
The Ukrainian regions have been ruled by pro-Russian separatists since 2014. It is unclear whether the Russian forces will enter Ukrainian-controlled areas.
The recognition of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states has already been met with condemnation from large parts of the Western world. Putin announced the recognition in a long televised speech Monday night, in which he spent a lot of time reviewing the relationship between Russia and Ukraine.
Source : © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
Do you have a news tip for Norway Today? We want to hear it. Get in touch at [email protected]
Leave a comment