MOSCOW (AP) — A long-feared Russian invasion of Ukraine appears to be imminent, if not already underway, with Russian President Vladimir Putin ordering forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine.

A vaguely worded decree signed by Putin does not say if troops are on the move, and it casts the order as an effort to “maintain peace.”

But it appears to dash the slim remaining hopes of averting a major conflict in Europe that could cause massive casualties, energy shortages on the continent and economic chaos around the globe.

The U.N. Security Council set a rare nighttime emergency meeting for later Monday at the request of Ukraine, the U.S. and other countries.

Earlier Story

MOSCOW (AP) — The White House says President Joe Biden is ordering new sanctions on Moscow after Russia moved to recognize separatist eastern Ukraine regions.

The Biden administration calls Monday’s announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin a “blatant violation of Russia’s international commitments.”

The sanctions will prohibit new investment, trade and financing in the two separatist regions of Ukraine recognized by Putin.

The European Union’s top officials have also said the bloc will impose sanctions.

Original Story

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has convened top officials to consider recognizing the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine.

Such a move would ratchet up tensions with the West amid fears that the Kremlin could launch an invasion of Ukraine imminently.

The meeting Monday of the presidential Security Council comes amid a spike in skirmishes in eastern Ukraine that Western powers believe Russia could use as a pretext for an attack.

With an estimated 150,000 Russian troops massed on three sides of Ukraine, the U.S. has warned that Moscow has already decided to invade.

Still, the American and Russian presidents tentatively agreed to meet in a last-ditch effort to avoid war.