Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed two decrees recognizing "the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR)" and "the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)" as independent and sovereign states.

UN chief "greatly concerned" over Russia's decision concerning Donetsk and Luhansk. 

The United States and allies including France requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council later on Monday. 

U.S. announced financial sanctions against rebel territories in eastern Ukraine freshly recognized by Russia. The EU said the bloc will also react with sanctions. 

U.S. Embassy in Ukraine had previously relocated from Kyiv to the western city of Lviv. Now they are shifting to Poland, reported Bloomberg.