Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a decree recognizing the independence of two separatist regions of Ukraine, the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic, and ordered troops to the areas, saying they will "maintain peace." But what exactly does it mean for Putin to recognize these breakaway regions?
In 2014, Russian-backed separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions declared that they were now independent "people's republics" and no longer tied to the Ukrainian government, Reuters explains. These areas were never recognized until Putin's announcement on Monday, and once forces are there, Russia could say it is intervening in matters because it is an ally.
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