Putin shows his hand as Russian forces move into Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin stunned the world on February 21, 2022, when he signed an agreement that formally recognises two proxy states in eastern Ukraine as independent regions, which he could support militarily through a “peacekeeping” force – much to the dismay of the global political community. “I consider it necessary to take a long overdue decision to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic,” were the words spoken by an