Putin Says Eastern Ukraine Rebel-Held Regions Are Independent States: Mass Civilian Casualties Expected
Russia is one step closer to war in eastern Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the independence of Luhansk, and Donetsk Monday afternoon -- two Russian-backed separatist regions in Ukraine.
The move creates open doorways for Russian troops in the Donbas region.
Putin cited American pressure and Soviet history as a merit for his decision.
The U.S. is warning of an "extremely violent" attack on Ukraine in the coming hours or days.
Both U.S. and French officials say Presidents Biden and Putin have agreed to meet "in principle."
But Moscow says that's premature.
This news comes as Russian forces are now poised to attack.
Russia on Sunday extended its military drills in Belarus along Ukraine's northern border after two days of shelling in eastern Ukraine between Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces.
CBN News Senior International Correspondent George Thomas, who's in Lviv, Ukraine, said Moscow-backed forces in the east are laying the groundwork for a pretext to invade.
"Russia's eight-year-long war against Ukraine in the East has taken a dramatic turn in the last 72 hours", Thomas said. "Three sources that I've spoken to in the occupied territories say they've been notified this weekend that women, children, and the elderly need to evacuate immediately because they alleged that Ukraine is preparing for a massive military offensive. In addition, men between the ages of 18 and 60 are ordered to stay behind and to take up arms."
Moscow has as many as 190,000 troops surrounding Ukraine, at least half of them in attack positions.
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Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor describes Ukraine as a hostage in a struggle between Russia and the West.
"Ukraine has a gun to its head while Russia is negotiating with the U.S., NATO, and others and so yes they are a pawn," Taylor told NBC's Meet The Press.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a security conference in Munich, Germany asked why the West has taken so long to impose sanctions on Russia.
"We don't need your sanctions after the bombardment will happen," Zelensky said.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN it's because once sanctions are invoked, Putin has nothing left to lose.
"The purpose of the sanctions in the first instance is to try to deter Russia from going to war. As soon as you trigger them, that deterrent is gone," Blinken said.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Russia has amassed enough firepower to take the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, but with mass civilian casualties.
"If he employs that kind of combat power, it will certainly create enormous casualties within a civilian population," Austin said.
Across Ukraine, civilians are taking part in combat training, preparing to fight, if necessary.
The U.S. says it has credible evidence that Moscow has drawn up a kill list targeting Russian dissidents, journalists, human rights activists, and ethnic and religious minorities living in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the White House announced Monday that President Joe Biden plans to impose new sanctions on trade and financing in the two territories. Biden will sign an executive order that would "prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by US persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine."
The order "will also provide authority to impose sanctions on any person determined to operate in those areas of Ukraine," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement. She added that the U.S. "will also soon announce additional measures related to today’s blatant violation of Russia’s international commitments."
