Russia sanctioned after Putin recognizes separatist provinces’ independence, says Ukraine part of Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Ukraine is historically part of Russia during a speech in which he also signed decrees to recognize the independence of separatists regions of eastern Ukraine, a move that spurred President Biden to issue new sanctions.

“I will start with the fact that modern Ukraine was entirely created by Russia or, to be more precise, by Bolshevik, Communist Russia,” Putin said in a speech Monday that was translated into English by the Kremlin.

PUTIN RECOGNIZES PARTS OF UKRAINE AS INDEPENDENT, PROMPTING INITIAL US SANCTIONS: LIVE UPDATES

Putin took aim at the current government for trying to distance itself from its historically Russian…