MOSCOW (AP) — Russian lawmakers authorized President Vladimir Putin to use military force outside the country.
That could presage a broader attack on Ukraine.
The U.S. is now calling the deployment of Russian troops in eastern Ukraine an invasion.
Putin also laid out three conditions to end the crisis that has threatens to plunge Europe back into war.
He called for international recognition of Crimea as part of Russia, an end to Ukraine’s NATO membership bid and a halt to weapons shipments there.
The West has decried Russia’s annexation of Crimea as a violation of international law and has rejected permanently barring Ukraine from NATO.
Earlier Story
BANGKOK (AP) — Oil prices have surged nearly 5% and stock prices dropped after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of rebel-held regions of Ukraine, raising fears that a full-scale invasion was near.
U.S. futures also skidded after Wall Street was closed Monday for Presidents Day.
Western powers have feared Russia might use skirmishes in Ukraine’s eastern regions as a pretext for an attack on the democracy, which has defied Moscow’s attempts to pull it back into its orbit.
The U.S. and European Union condemned Russia and prepared to hit President Vladimir Putin’s administration and supporters with sanctions.
Original Story
BRUSSELS (AP) — World leaders are getting over the shock of Russian President Vladimir Putin ordering his forces into separatist regions of Ukraine and they are focusing on producing as forceful a reaction as possible.
Germany made the first big move Tuesday and took steps to halt the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia.
The West insisted Putin’s bold move violated countless international agreements and since the words of diplomacy had failed it was time to move towards action.
Western powers have long made it clear that the fate of Ukraine wasn’t worth a hot and direct military confrontation with Russia and the potential of a world war.
So sanctions are the option to crystalize their anger at the moment.
