Putin recognizes Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk as separate states, US imposes sanctions; Increased fear of Russian attack. Russian President Vladimir Putin has recognized the independence of Russia-backed separatist regions (Donetsk and Luhansk) in eastern Ukraine. With this decision of Russia, tensions will increase further amid fears of Western countries of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Putin made the announcement after a meeting of the President's Security Council, paving the way for Russia to openly send force and weapons to a conflict between Moscow-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces. Western countries fear that Russia may attack Ukraine at any time and may use skirmishes in eastern Ukraine as an excuse to attack. Earlier, Ukraine's separatist leaders in a televised statement urged the Russian President to recognize the independence of the separatist regions and to protect them from ongoing Ukrainian military attacks against them by signing friendship treatie...
