Russian head of state Vladimir Putin has ordered troops into Ukraine under the pretext of a peacekeeping mission, although U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield denied the Russian claim of peace in a recent emergency United Nations Security Council meeting.
Putin announced his recognition of the independence of two Ukrainian states, Luhansk and Donetsk before deploying soldiers into the separatist region of Ukraine. Separatists in the region are supported by Russia, with Putin calling for an abdication of power by the current Ukrainian government.