https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/02/21/putin-unloads-parade-of-ukraine-grievances-in-tv-broadcast/ > By Vladimir Isachenkov, Yuras Karmanau and Lorne Cook | Associated Press > MOSCOW — Russian President President Vladimir Putin has recognized the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine — a move that will severely ratchet up tensions with the West amid fears that his country could invade Ukraine at any moment and use skirmishes as a pretext for an attack.