Ukraine-Russia crisis: What to know in the escalating crisis

The U.S. and several Western allies are preparing to put sanctions on Russia after President Vladimir Putin heightened fears of war by ordering his country's troops to rebel-held regions of eastern Ukraine

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- World leaders condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin and prepared Tuesday to hit his administration with sanctions as he heightened fears of war with legislation that would allow the deployment of troops to rebel-held regions of eastern Ukraine.

From a hastily convened meeting of the United Nations Security Council to capitals around the world, leaders condemned Putin's recognition of the two pro-Russia regions and order to send troops there. They warned of global fallout from a conflict in Ukraine.

A vaguely worded decree signed by Putin late Monday did not say if Russian troops were on the move, and it cast his order as an effort to “maintain peace.” Lawmakers in the Kremlin-controlled parliament are likely to rubber-stamp legislation authorizing the use of troops in in the separatist regions, an area known as Donbas.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought to project calm, telling the country in an address overnight: “We are not afraid of anyone or anything.”