Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that separatist militias who control parts of eastern Ukraine should treat those regions as independent countries — saying he wants to redraw borders in Europe for the first time in decades and hinting that he would deploy Russian forces to make that happen.Putin made his position clear in a call with the leaders of France and Germany, according to a Kremlin statement. The two countries have led negotiations between the Ukrainians and the Russian-backed separatists. Putin’s move dramatically escalates the security crisis in eastern Europe, where he has posted 150,000 troops in recent weeks and the U.S. has warned a devastating all-out war could break out.
Russian President Vladimir Putin Calls For Ukraine To Break Apart, Escalating Crisis
