Horse 2977a - Putin Chose Two Options

https://twitter.com/phildstewart/status/1495871597059706887

BREAKING-Putin orders "peacekeeping operation" in eastern Ukraine's two breakaway regions

- Phil Stewart, Reuters correspondent via Twitter, @phildstewart , 22nd Feb 2022

It would appear that Putin has chosen one of the options which I thought was likely in Horse 2977:

https://rollo75.blogspot.com/2022/02/horse-2977-options-in-russiaukraine.html

2. Minor Russian invasion to capture new territory in the east of Ukraine.

This would be like the invasion of Crimea except that in this particular example, that would be a lot of effort, bloodshed and sanctions, for gain which is of minimal and/or marginal and/or questionable value. 

- Horse 2977, 21st Feb 2022.

I still think that a Russian invasion of any territory in Ukraine is of marginal and/or questionable value and really serves no other purpose than to make a lot of people very very angry. 

Subject to option 2, I now expect that this opens the door to a whole host of false flag operations including there being a car bomb in Red Square which will be blamed on Ukraine but will have been carried out by the Russian Government as a pretext for retaliation.

I think that it is fair to say the first casualty of war, which is truth, has probably already died. 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-22/putin-orders-russian-peacekeepers-ukraine/100849964

President Vladimir Putin has ordered his Defence Ministry to dispatch Russian forces to "maintain peace" in eastern Ukraine's two breakaway regions, the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, after he said Moscow would recognise their independence.

- ABC News, 22nd Feb 2022

Of course not being content with one option, Putin has also chosen a second option as well.

3. Recognise Donetsk People's Republic and/or the Luhansk People's Republic; then install Russian troops there officially.

This is sensible on the part of Russia and does give legitimacy to Russia ending troops over the part of Russia but it is in exact opposition to Russia's strategic objectives and just like capturing territory, is is expense with minimal value to be achieved.

- Horse 2977, 21st Feb 2022.

I can only come to the conclusion that Putin wants to add multiple airs of legitimacy to what is otherwise a really silly set of circumstances.