Putin recognises breakaway regions in Ukraine, US imposes sanctions: Here’s all that happened

Accelerating the West’s fear of war, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a decree recognising two breakaway regions from Ukraine — Donetsk and Luhansk, which are collectively known as the Donbass. This prompted the United States to impose sanctions, blocking trade and investment in the regions.

An emergency UN Security Council meeting also deliberated on the developments.