Russian troops at a welcoming ceremony as they deploy in Belarus, north of Ukraine, January 2022

I joined Pakistan’s PTV World on Monday, minutes after Vladimir Putin signalled that he would expand Russia’s war inside Ukraine.

I analyzed the significance of Putin’s recognition of Russian-backed separatists as “independent republics” in Donetsk and Lugansk in eastern Ukraine, explaining how this would lead to the invasion of Russian forces to occupy the territory.

I look at Putin’s calculations and assess the possible responses by the US, Europe, and NATO.

The hosts are Sana Maqbool and analysts Farrukh Pitafi and Raja Faisal.

Watch from 28:16:

See also Ukraine: World Condemns Russia’s Imminent Invasion
“Nowhere Else to Run”: The Ukrainians Who Are Internally Displaced

By recognizing the Russian proxy groups as “independent”, Putin is sanctioning the break-up of Ukraine. That in effect is an act of war: once those so-called “republics” are “independent”, he can move Russian forces into that territory.