**Diplomatt Breaking News:**
• Russian President Vladimir Putin held a press conference where he expounded that Ukraine is historically apart of Russia, Ukraine is set to develop nukes which could be used against Russia, and Ukraine is a puppet regime controlled by the US.
• Shortly after, Putin signed a decree recognizing Donetsk and Luhansk as independent regions.
• World leaders reacted to this by calling it a blatant disregard to international law and President Biden has responded with an executive order to ban investments and banking with entities within these independent regions.