Reuters
By Dmitry Antonov and Michel Rose MOSCOW/PARIS (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday he was considering a request by two regions of eastern Ukraine held by Russian-backed separatists to be recognised as independent – a move that could give Moscow a reason to openly send troops. Separately, Moscow said Ukrainian military saboteurs had tried to enter Russian territory in armed vehicles, an accusation dismissed as “fake news” by Kyiv amid Western accusations that Moscow aims to fabricate a pretext to invade. Washington says Russia has now massed a force numbering 169,000-190,…
More reaction to this story HERE.
Some reaction on Twitter:
As of 17:00 on February 21st, Russian forces invading Ukraine opened fired on defenders and civilians at Talakivka, Pishchevyk, Vodyane, Krasnohorivka, Memryk, Stanytsya Luhanska, Shchastya, Lebedynske, Chermalyk, Kamyanka, Novoluhanske, Novoselivka Druha, Novomykhaylivka … pic.twitter.com/3234RyRZdu
— Michael MacKay (@mhmck) February 21, 2022
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan tells NBC this am that Russia is planning an “extremely violent” invasion of Ukraine. US has “intelligence to suggest that there will be an even greater form of brutality” against Ukrainians, “to repress them, to crush them, to harm them.”
— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) February 21, 2022
Jake Sullivan warns a Russian attack could begin within hours or days and downplays likelihood of Biden-Putin meeting. “Every indication we see on the ground right now in terms of the disposition of Russian forces is they are getting prepared for a major attack on Ukraine.”
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) February 21, 2022
It finishes with Putin saying the decision will be taken today. If the decision is to recognise the republics within the 2014 borders of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, that means a war.
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) February 21, 2022
I don’t speak Russian, but according to reliable translators, the spy chief also gave up the game here.
Putin asked if he supported recognition, and he said “I support bringing them into Russia”
Putin quickly said, “that’s not what we’re discussing!”
… but it is https://t.co/pUkYSuorfo
— Angry Staffer (@Angry_Staffer) February 21, 2022
The United States is leading an alliance of nations doing all they can do to prevent a dictator from invading a sovereign nation. 2 thoughts:
This is ALL on Putin.
If Trump were President, the United States would be doing NOTHING to stop Putin. Thank God Trump isn’t President.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) February 21, 2022
Led by Fox News Channel’s Tucker Carlson, the GOP’s Trump wing appears to be throwing its weight behind Putin. If Putin opts to wage war on our ally, Ukraine, such “aid and comfort” to an “enemy” would appear to become “treason” as defined by Article III of the U.S. Constitution
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) February 21, 2022
Putin will seek to crush Ukraine’s will to resist. He‘ll strike “morale” targets (revolution square, schools, hospitals, groups of protesters, key cultural sights, etc.) to punish any resistance. Putin intends to break Ukraine.
I wrote about this here: https://t.co/nLGgqKtQ80 https://t.co/Vb8Zbb1Rv2— Alexander S. Vindman (@AVindman) February 21, 2022
The human cost will be immeasurable as Putin seeks to subjugate a sovereign nation with 40 million people and extinguish its identity. The response to Russian aggression must be aimed at crushing the Russian economy and destabilizing Putin by targeting the assets of his cronies.
— Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES) February 21, 2022