President Putin approved a decree recognizing the independence of two separatist regions of Ukraine.

Under the agreement, Russia will have the right to build military bases in Donetsk and Lugansk. President Putin also instructed the Russian Defense Ministry to deploy troops to these two regions to "keep the peace", but it is not clear how large or when this force will begin its mission.

President Putin speaks on television on February 21. Photo: Reuters.

In a televised speech afterward, the Kremlin chief appeared angry and described Ukraine as "a part of Russian history", saying that "eastern Ukraine was Russian territory in the past" and believing that the Russian people would support his decision.

The Kremlin said President Putin had informed German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron of the decision, with both Western leaders expressing disappointment with the news.

The US and its allies have reacted strongly to Russia's actions.

The White House said US President Joe Biden condemned his Russian counterpart's decision in a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky. He also discussed "coordinated responses" with the French president and German chancellor.

Biden is expected to sign an executive order banning US citizens from investing or doing business with the two separatist regions, as well as imposing sanctions on "any individuals identified as operating in these areas of Ukraine." White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the measures were separate from sanctions prepared by the US and its allies if Russia attacks Ukraine.

Leaders of two separatist regions of Ukraine (left) and Russian President signed the agreement on February 21. Photo: Reuters.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the European Union had agreed to impose limited sanctions on "those responsible" for Russia's recognition of the breakaway regions. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the government would soon announce new sanctions against Russia.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg accused Moscow of continuing to escalate tensions in eastern Ukraine and "trying to fabricate a pretext" to attack its neighbor.

The two provinces of Donetsk and Lugansk, located in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine, have been the focus of conflict since 2014, after residents unsuccessfully demanded greater autonomy and organized armed resistance. The Ukrainian government launched two large-scale military campaigns to regain control of Donbass, but both were unsuccessful.

Clashes between Ukrainian government forces and separatists in the east have escalated in recent days. Local authorities in Russia near the Ukrainian border have declared a state of emergency in recent days as civilians from the Donbass region have fled to the neighboring country.

More than 50,000 people have entered Russia after separatist leaders called on women, children and the elderly to leave because of escalating clashes, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said on February 20. Fighting between Ukrainian government forces and separatists broke out in 2014, killing more than 14,000 people.

Dobass region and Crimea peninsula. Graphic: Washington Post.

Tensions around Ukraine have been rising since late last year, after the US and many Western allies accused Russia of amassing more than 100,000 troops on its western border to plan an attack on its neighbor. In recent weeks, the US has repeatedly warned that Russia is "imminently attacking", but the Ukrainian government believes the situation is "nothing new".

Russia has repeatedly asserted that all military activities at the border are an internal matter and are only aimed at practicing the threat from NATO's eastward expansion scenario, while criticizing the US and its allies for exaggerating the risk of war.