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:
- "Worse Than Death" - A Message For Putin From A Reluctant ... ›
- Peace-Loving Putin v. War-Mongering West: How Russian Media Is ... ›
- Minsk, My Beauty: How Putin Is Luring The West To Give Up On ... ›
