Links — 21 Feb 2022 PM

SouthFront (this is not the end of the matter but rather a new beginning post-Minsk.)
Putin Issues Ultimatum To Kiev Regime, Signs Order To Recognize DPR And LPR

https://southfront.org/putin-issues-ultimatum-to-kiev-regime-signs-order-to-recognize-dpr-and-lpr/

One World (succinct summary)
What Prompted President Putin To Finally Recognize The Donbass Republics?

Andrew Korybko

http://oneworld.press/?module=articles&action=view&id=2505

Consortium News (someone is lying. Both sides accuse the other. Joe Lauria looks at the evidence.)
Putin Recognizes Donbass Independence as Violence Soars

Joe Lauria

https://consortiumnews.com/2022/02/21/putin-recognizes-donbass-independence-as-violence-soars/

Asia Times
Putin backfoots NATO with East Ukraine recognition

David P. Goldman

https://asiatimes.com/2022/02/putin-backfoots-nato-with-east-ukraine-recognition/

Center for Citizen Initiatives (Russia charged with violation of international law. Jack Matlock says not so fast. It's nuanced.)
Ambassador Jack Matlock’s Analysis Of International Laws And Treaties

https://ccisf.org/ambassador-jack-matlocks-analysis-of-international-laws-and-treaties/

Reminiscence of the Future (Andrei no doubt speaks for a lot of Russians)
Free, Free At Last!!!

Andrei Martyanov, former USSR naval officer and expert on Russian military and naval issues.

http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/02/free-free-at-last.html

The Vineyard of the Saker
Russia recognition of the LDNR – a few initial thoughts

http://thesaker.is/russia-recognition-of-the-ldnr-a-few-initial-thoughts/
The Saker

Irrussianality (no other good choice after Ukraine stonewalled Minsk. The invasion hype was a hoax.)
Quick reaction to Putin’s speech recognizing DPR/LPR
Paul Robinson | Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa

https://irrussianality.wordpress.com/2022/02/21/quick-reaction-to-putins-speech-recognizing-dpr-lpr/

Middle East Eye (with some nuances)
Ukraine crisis: Israeli officials say they will side with US over Russia

http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/ukraine-crisis-israeli-officials-say-they-will-side-us-over-russia

Turcopolier
Putin Tells Biden and the West to Pound Sand
Larry Johnson

https://turcopolier.com/putin-tells-biden-and-the-west-to-pound-sand/

RT (allegedly inside border of Russia, not Donbass)
Russia shows video of destroyed Ukrainian invaders’ vehicles
https://www.rt.com/russia/550157-fsb-video-ukrainian-vehicles/

Putin orders Russian military to Donbass Republics as peacekeepers
https://www.rt.com/russia/550177-putin-decree-military-donbass/

Details of Russia-Donbass cooperation treaty emerge

https://www.rt.com/russia/550186-russia-donbass-cooperation-treaty

SouthFront

Why SF Takes “Pro-Russian Position” In Current Ukrainian Conflict

https://southfront.org/why-sf-takes-pro-russian-position-in-current-ukrainian-conflict/

Number Of Shelling On LDPR Greatly Increased Before Russia Recognized States As Independent And Almost Stopped Right After

https://southfront.org/number-of-shelling-on-ldpr-greatly-increased-before-russia-recognized-states-as-independent-and-almost-stopped-right-after/

Anti-Bellum (Europe is on the brink of war again. Who is to blame?)
EU to establish military mission in Ukraine

https://antibellum679354512.wordpress.com/2022/02/21/eu-to-establish-military-mission-in-ukraine/

Sputnik International
Zelenskyy: Ukraine's Int'l Border Will Remain the Same Regardless of Russia's LPR, DPR Recognition

https://sputniknews.com/20220222/zelenskyy-ukraines-intl-border-will-remain-the-same-regardless-of-russias-lpr-dpr-recognition-1093252030.html