Russian troops have deployed to two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, after Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday declared them independent states. Putin made the announcement from the Kremlin during a lengthy speech in which he questioned the legitimacy of Ukraine as an independent sovereign state.

President Vladimir Putin: “We demand from those who captured and hold the power in Kyiv to immediately end the combat activities; otherwise, all responsibility for the possible continuation of the bloodshed will be entirely on the conscience of the regime ruling the territory of Ukraine.”