Biden Prepares Sanctions as Russia Declares Separatist Regions of Ukraine Independent

President Joe Biden will sign an executive order blocking new U.S. investment to two separatist-controlled regions of Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized them as independent, the White House said Monday. 

After a Monday speech in which Putin said Ukraine had “never had traditions of its own statehood” and called parts of eastern Ukraine “ancient Russian lands,” the Russian president signed a decree recognizing so-called “People’s Republics” in the separatist-controlled Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Putin also ordered Russian troops to conduct “peacekeeping operations” in the regions. On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted that he had spoken with Biden and would speak with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the matter. 

Coverage was prominently featured on most major left-rated outlets’ homepages. Some right-rated outlets like Fox News (Right) instead featured criticism of Democrats like Kamala Harris. Coverage in several left-rated outlets described Putin’s remarks as “brazen,” and “fiery”; Axios (Center) called it “combative,” and New York Post (Lean Right) said Putin “ranted and raved.” Most coverage across the spectrum referred to the separatist regions as “so-called” republics.