Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin formally recognised two breakaway regions in Ukraine run by Russian proxies and authorised Russian troops to enter the territories, an initial step to what could become a far deeper involvement of Moscow’s military in its post-Soviet neighbour’s affairs.

The moves, announced after a meeting of Russia’s Security Council and a rambling, impassioned televised address by Putin, were not the full-fledged invasion predicted by many in the West after weeks of deployment by Russian troops on Ukraine’s borders. And almost all Western observers believed Russian troops were already inside the two breakaway “republics” in Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas.

But the formal deployment of troops “for peacekeeping” at the request of Moscow’s proxies could well lead to a far larger military engagement. Monitors have already noted a big upswing in shelling and violations of a cease-fire in and around the separatist-held area in the past few days.

The United States and other Western countries roundly condemned the moves after weeks of feverish diplomacy aimed at resolving the crisis pitting Moscow against Kyiv and, more broadly, against the West and NATO. On the eve of Putin’s decision, France had tried to organise a summit between the Russian leader and U.S. President Joe Biden.

Washington announced sanctions against the two breakaway regions, but not Russia itself, while the European Union also pledged to introduce new punitive measures in response to “this illegal act”.

Russia has repeatedly insisted it will not invade Ukraine, but asked the West to provide “security guarantees”,  including an undertaking that NATO would expand no further and Ukraine would never become a member.

In his hour-long address, Putin again accused Washington and its allies of disregarding these demands.

“Let me say clearly and directly that in this situation, when our proposals for a dialogue of equals on fundamental issues remain practically without a response from the United States and when the level of threat to our country rises significantly, Russia is fully within its rights to take retaliatory measures to ensure its security,” Putin told Russians. “And that is precisely what we will do.”

Putin repeated his contention that Ukraine’s leaders were beholden to neo-Nazis and nationalists since its Russia-friendly president fled the country after mass demonstrations in 2014. And those leaders, he said, sought a “military solution” to the conflict in Donbas, had no intention of implementing the two “Minsk accords”  aimed at ending the fighting and were responsible for an upswing of military activity in the two regions.

A “long overdue” decision on recognition

“In this connection, I believe it is vital to take a decision which is long overdue – the immediate recognition of the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic,” Putin said.

And he added: “As for those who have seized and now hold power in Kyiv, we demand that they immediately cease military actions. Otherwise, the entire responsibility for the possibility of a continuation of bloodshed will be fully and wholly on the conscience of the regime ruling the territory of Ukraine.”

Putin restated his long-held thesis that Ukraine had no historic basis for statehood in its own right but, rather, had been created under Soviet rule. Corruption was rife, its industry was failing and its leaders were committing “genocide” against anyone unwilling to share their views or express a different identity.

He said the West had duped Russia by saying NATO posed no threat to its interests and had, instead, expanded the Alliance up to his country’s borders and installed weapons systems. Ukrainian membership would increase the threat to Russia many times over and now Moscow faced the prospect of new sanctions after its troop deployments.

Western “blackmail”

“They are trying to blackmail us again. They are threatening us again with sanctions, which I think they will introduce anyway as Russia’s sovereignty strengthens and the power of our armed forces grows. And a pretext for another sanctions attack will always be found or fabricated. Regardless of the situation in Ukraine,” the president said.

“There is only one goal – to restrain the development of Russia. And they will do it, as they did before. Even without any formal pretext at all. Just because we exist, and we will never compromise our sovereignty, national interests and our values.”

In Washington, the White House said Biden had spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after the Russian measures were proclaimed.

Zelensky, in an address quoted by Ukraine’s Espreso TV, called on Ukrainians to “keep a cool head, react calmly, in an adult fashion. We have been ready for this for a long time. But there is no reason for you to lose any sleep”.

Zelensky said he had sought consultations with the U.N. Security Council as well as the members of the “Normandy format” – made up of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine — tasked with finding a peaceful settlement in Donbas.

Zelensky had for days chided the United States and other allied countries for repeatedly warning of an impending invasion, sometimes citing a specific date. Biden last week said he was “convinced” Putin had made the decision to proceed with an incursion.

In a fiery weekend address to the Munich security conference, Zelensky also urged Western countries to impose sanctions now rather than wait for his country to suffer the effects of an incursion. The United States and European Union rejected his call, saying sanctions would then lose their effect.

Zelensky also sought clarity on the prospects for Ukraine securing membership of NATO and the European Union. Membership of both institutions has been entrenched in Ukraine’s constitution.

In Washington, White House press secretary Jen Psaki called Putin’s move a “blatant violation of Russia’s international commitments” and said Biden would soon issue an executive order prohibiting investment, trade and financing with people in the two breakaway regions.

“To be clear: These measures are separate from and would be in addition to the swift and severe economic measures we have been preparing in coordination with allies and partners should Russia further invade Ukraine,” Psaki said in a statement.

The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, described the recognition of the two territories as “a blatant violation of international law”. And in a joint statement with the European Council President, Charles Michel, the two leaders said the European Union will “react with sanctions against those involved in this illegal act”.

Russian state television had earlier broadcast reports of what it said was Ukrainian shelling of civilian targets in the separatist regions. Ukraine denied it.

And it also broadcast videotaped appeals from the two leaders of the breakaway republics urging Putin to recognise their independence. The Kremlin then released footage of senior officials at the Security Council meeting explaining why Putin should proceed with recognition.