After weeks of escalating rhetoric, diplomatic roller coasters and wondering “what will Putin do,” Russian President Vladimir Putin took a decisive first step toward what some fear may be the worst military conflict in Europe since World War II.
During a televised speech late Monday night from the Kremlin — and just hours after rising hopes of a potential Biden-Putin summit — the Russian president formally recognized the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and ordered Russian troops to move in, officially for “peacekeeping” purposes.
But all signs say it means just the opposite. The move marks a “tipping point” in the crisis, reports German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, as many fear it means a major war that could lead to extensive bloodshed among Ukrainians and Russians, as well as lasting ramifications for the rest of the world’s economy and political balance of power.
Here’s how international newspapers featured this decisive moment on their front pages Tuesday:
UKRAINE – kpaïha
RUSSIA – Komsomolskaya Pravda
Kommersant
Izvestia
UNITED STATES – New York Daily News
The Washington Post
The New York Times
UK – The Times
The Guardian
GERMANY – Süddeutsche Zeitung
SWEDEN – Dagens Nyheter
FRANCE – Le Figaro
BELGIUM – Le Soir
De Morgen
LUXEMBOURG – Luxemburger Wort
ITALY – La Stampa
Il Tirreno
SPAIN – El Periodico
El Correo
GREECE – E Kathimerini
CROATIA – Vecernji List
NETHERLANDS – De Telegraaf
POLAND – Super Express
ISRAEL – Yediot Ahronoth
ARGENTINA – La Nacion
BRAZIL – Jornal do Commercio
MEXICO – La Razon
SOUTH KOREA – JoongAng Ilbo
