Â鶹ԼÅÄ

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered troops into two rebel-held regions in eastern Ukraine, after recognising them as independent states.

Footage released overnight appeared to show Russian military vehicles heading towards the Ukrainian border.

Russia said the troops would be "peacekeeping" in the breakaway regions, which it has backed since 2014.

But the US said calling them peacekeepers was "nonsense" and accused Russia of creating a pretext for war.

Newsnight’s Diplomatic Editor Mark Urban reports and is joined by Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council, Andrey Kortunov, Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko and Chair of the US House Armed Services Committee Adam Smith.