With a stroke of the pen, Putin makes his first move.

The lead starts right now.

Fast-moving developments in the Ukraine crisis, Russian President Putin just decided to

recognize two areas of Ukraine as independent.

Now President Biden declares economic sanctions on those regions.

Then, how about another COVID shot with a flu chaser next fall?

Both officials now discuss in the timing of a possible fourth dose of the vaccine.

And if you can't physically force them out, how about just taking away their resources?

Canadian officials want to cut off funding of the trucker-inspired protests.

Welcome to a special edition of the lead I'm Pamela Brown in 4 Jake Tapper.

And we begin today with breaking news in our world lead and a move by Russian President

Vladimir Putin that Western leaders are already condemning as a breach of international law.

This afternoon, Putin signed documents, officially recognizing two parts of Ukraine as independent

territories.

Russia has been purposefully destabilizing the regions for years, army, and financing

separatists in an eight-year war that has cost 14,000 lives.

A moment ago, we just learned President Biden spoke with Ukraine's President after Putin's

announcement, and the White House has just released a statement previewing an executive

order and new sanctions in response to Putin.

Our team of reporters are on the ground in the region covering all these angles.

Clarissa Ward is in Kiev, Ukraine, Alex Markhart is in Zapparizia, Ukraine, and Gildority

is in Moscow.

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