Putin breaks 7-year-old cease fire, recognizes Ukrainian separatist regions

Russian President Vladimir Putin pushed the world yet another step closer to war on Monday by recognizing the independence of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine – ignoring warnings from Western leaders against such a move. 

In a televised address, Putin appealed to viewers by claiming that eastern Ukraine has close historic ties to Russia -- before expressing confidence that his decision to support the separatists would be widely supported by the Russian people, Reuters reported.

"I deem it necessary to make a decision that should have been made a long time ago - to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic," Putin said.

The Russian autocrat further argued that it was a mistake for Soviet leaders to grant the Ukraine an independent identity.

"For some reason Khruschev gave Ukraine separate status," Putin said during a security council meeting on Monday. "Why did we have to be so generous and then give these Republics the right to leave? Madness!"

According to Fox News, Putin also warned that although Ukraine was created by Soviet leadership under Vladimir Lenin, it is now a Western “colony” whose government is controlled by Washington through its embassy in Kyiv.

Such statements perfectly fit his narrative, which states that "if Ukraine was to join NATO it would serve as a direct threat to the security of Russia."

Putin first announced his decision to recognize the independence of Luhansk and Donetsk in phone calls to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron, both of whom "expressed disappointment,” the Kremlin reported.

Shortly after, Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told the Russian head of state that dialogue is the only way of dealing with the escalating crisis in Ukraine.

"I urgently call on the Russian government, on the Russian president: Don't play with human lives," Baerbock said.

The German lawmaker also pointed to the increased violence along the Russia-Ukraine border, urging the Kremlin to consider a diplomatic path instead.

“What we have seen over the last 72 hours in terms of attacks, violent disputes is really concerning," she said. "The responsibility lies with the Russian government which is why I call urgently on the Russian government: Come back to the negotiating table. It is in your hands."

But Putin’s move may have effectively undermined any last-minute diplomatic efforts and analysts feel that a meeting between Washington and Moscow is increasingly unlikely.

Western leaders had warned that the illegal recognition of separatist regions would kill off peace negotiations and immediately trigger sanctions against Moscow.    

Although the Kremlin still denies any plan to attack its neighbor, the recognition of the rebel-held areas could pave the way for Moscow to send military forces into the two separatist regions. Such a scenario appears increasingly likely as Putin ordered forces on Monday evening to help maintain peace in eastern Ukraine.

According to Russian parliamentarian and former Donetsk political leader, Alexander Borodai, the separatists can now ask the Kremlin to help them gain control of the parts of the regions still controlled by Ukrainian forces.

Earlier this week, U.S. and European officials said they were not yet in agreement about how to respond if the Kremlin increased support for the pro-Russian separatists – a move which they recognize will fundamentally narrow any diplomatic options to avoid war as it represents an explicit rejection of a seven-year-old ceasefire mediated by France and Germany.