Joe.My.God. LGBT News
The New York Times reports:
The Kremlin said Monday that President Vladimir V. Putin would recognize the independence of two territories in Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed separatists, further escalating tensions in what Western nations fear could lead to one of the biggest conflicts in Europe since World War II.
The announcement was made by the Kremlin in a statement summarizing Mr. Putin’s phone calls on Monday with President Emmanuel Macron of France and Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany.
“The president of Russia said that he intended to sign the relevant decree in the near future,” the Kremlin said. “The president of France and the Federal Chancellor of Germany expressed their disappointment with this development. At the same time, they indicated their readiness to continue contacts.”
The Washington Post reports:
Troops continue to gather near the Ukrainian border, suggesting that the window for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis is closing and striking a discordant note from Sunday’s news that President Biden and Putin had agreed “in principle” to meet.
The summit was proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron during separate calls with Biden and Putin on Sunday. Officials in Paris and Washington said the talks would go ahead only if Moscow doesn’t attack.
Russian officials were ambiguous about whether the summit would go ahead. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that there are not “concrete plans” for a Russia-U.S. summit.
The Kremlin said Monday that President Vladimir Putin would recognize the independence of two territories in Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed separatists. https://t.co/6bvq48crZb
— New York Times World (@nytimesworld) February 21, 2022