Russia-Ukraine Open Thread
By 
Shit is happening:
The Kremlin said Monday that President Vladimir V. Putin would recognize the independence of two territories in Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed separatists, further escalating tensions in what Western nations fear could lead to one of the biggest conflicts in Europe since World War II.
The announcement was made by the Kremlin in a statement summarizing Mr. Putin’s phone calls on Monday with President Emmanuel Macron of France and Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany.
“The president of Russia said that he intended to sign the relevant decree in the near future,” the Kremlin said. “The president of France and the Federal Chancellor of Germany expressed their disappointment with this development. At the same time, they indicated their readiness to continue contacts.”
In an evening address to the nation, Mr. Putin laid out a long history of grievances since the fall of the Soviet Union, and made the case that Ukraine is historically an integral part of Russia.
“We gave these republics the right to leave the union without any terms and conditions,” Mr., Putin said. “This is just madness.”
To my understanding this gives Russia the legal right under its own constitution to annex the two states; this is why Crimea briefly declared independence in 2014 before being absorbed.
Discuss at length. Be nice and be generous, but please flag the obvious trolls.