EU, UK leaders vow sanctions over Putin's recognition of breakaway Ukraine regions  —  Leaders from the European Union and the United Kingdom vowed Monday to impose sanctions over Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognize two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine as independent.

What we can expect after Putin's conquest of Ukraine  —  Let's assume for a moment that Vladimir Putin succeeds in gaining full control of Ukraine, as he shows every intention of doing.  What are the strategic and geopolitical consequences?  —  The first will be a new front line of conflict in Central Europe.

Putin's absurd, angry spectacle will be a turning point in his long reign  —  This was a supreme leader marshalling his minions for a decision that will change the security architecture in Europe and may well lead to horrific war  —  Sitting alone at a desk in a grand, columned Kremlin room …

Putin Chooses a Forever War  —  Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a long speech full of heavy sighs and dark grievances, made clear today that he has chosen war.  He went to war against Ukraine in 2014; now he has declared war against the international order of the past 30 years.

Wooing Allies, Publicizing Putin's Plans: Inside Biden's Race to Prevent War  —  President Biden made three critical decisions about how to handle Russia's provocations, aiming to prevent armed conflict in Ukraine.  —  WASHINGTON — In a series of top-secret meetings last October …

Executive Order on Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting Certain Transactions With Respect to Continued Russian Efforts to Undermine the Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of Ukraine … By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States …

The lose-lose outcome in Ukraine … Monday was a busy day for Vladimir Putin.  First he convened a bizarrely scripted security council meeting of the Russian Federation to discuss the situation in Ukraine.  One reporter described the debate as “like a Netflix drama” in which some of Putin's lackeys fumbled the script.

Oligarchs lobby Foreign Office in bid to avoid sanctions  —  Exclusive: Flurry of correspondence undermines Kremlin claims to be unfazed by prospect of economic measures  —  Russian oligarchs and Kremlin-linked organisations have begun intense lobbying of the Foreign Office to avoid sanctions …

Putin moves in eastern Ukraine could be opening phase of possible large-scale invasion, multiple US and western officials say  —  Russian President Vladimir Putin's move to recognize breakaway eastern Ukrainian territories as independent could be the opening phase of a larger potential military …