Lawmakers give Putin permission to use force outside Russia

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV, YURAS KARMANAU and AAMER MADHANI
Associated Press

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian lawmakers have authorized President Vladimir Putin to use military force outside the country. That could presage a broader attack on Ukraine after the U.S. said an invasion was already underway there. Several European leaders said Russian troops rolled into rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine after Putin recognized their independence. But it was unclear how large the deployment was. Ukraine and its Western allies have long said Russian troops were fighting in the region. Moscow always denied that. Members of the upper house voted unanimously Tuesday to allow Putin to use military force outside Russia. Shortly after, Putin laid out three conditions to end the crisis that has threatens to plunge Europe back into war.