liberateamericastaff 
Editor Note: This is a hard one, guys. In many ways, this means war. As this story began to unfold, we brought to you the story of NATO aggression and overreach. All of this can still be ended with 3 words from Biden: No NATO Expansion. We’re not too late for peace, but that time is coming quick. Reach out to your representatives and tell them to end this before so many lose their lives.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told the leaders of France and Germany he plans to sign a decree recognising the two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent entities, the Kremlin says.
The French and German leaders voiced disappointment after hearing the decision, the Kremlin said in a readout of the phone calls.
Meanwhile, Russian military said it has prevented a “diversionary reconnaissance” group from breaching the border from Ukraine.
Five troops were killed in the incident, the Russian defence ministry said on Monday, which allegedly took place in Russia’s southwestern Rostov region at about 03:00 GMT.
Kyiv dismissed the allegation as “fake news”.
Here are all the latest updates:
2 mins ago (18:42 GMT)
EU warns of sanctions if Russia recognises Ukraine breakaway regions
The EU has joined calls for Russia not to annex or recognise breakaway Ukrainian regions, warning of sanctions from the 27-nation bloc should Moscow do so.
“If there is annexation, there will be sanctions, and if there is recognition, I will put the sanctions on the table and the ministers will decide,” the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said after a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers.
