Russia orders troops into eastern Ukraine, fear of war grows
KHARKIV, Ukraine — Russian President Vladimir Putin raised the specter of war on Monday by ordering troops into separatist areas of eastern Ukraine in his most dangerous provocation yet with Washington over the fate of a nation that could redraw the map of Eastern Europe and upset the decadeslong security architecture on the continent.
The move to send soldiers to carry out “peacekeeping functions” has further inflamed animosities with European capitals. It comes amid escalating fears that Putin will order a full-on invasion in Ukraine — a scenario that could ignite fighting reminiscent of World War II — or stop at the borders of the separatist enclaves, which make up roughly a third of the eastern Ukrainian region known as the Donbas.
Putin’s action drew swift rebuke and condemnation from the international community. President Joe Biden and the European Union announced economic sanctions aimed at cutting trade and business with the enclaves. The U.N. Security Council called an emergency meeting for Monday night. It appeared by day’s end, though, that diplomacy was failing and the region was veering inexorably toward conflict.
“We’ll continue to pursue diplomacy until the tanks roll. We are under no illusions about what is likely to come next,” said
