Explainer-Might Russia recognise 'independence' of breakaway east Ukraine regions?

FILE PHOTO: A woman stands on a road in the village of Staromarivka located on the separation line that divides Ukraine between government-controlled territory and the enclave controlled by Russian-backed separatist forces, in Donetsk Region, Ukraine November 23, 2021. Irina Rybakova/Press service of the Ukrainian ground forces/Handout via REUTERS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A group of Russian lawmakers have urged parliament to appeal to President Vladimir Putin to recognise two pro-Russian breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent states.

Here's a look at what such a move might mean for the Ukraine crisis https://www.reuters.com/world/blinken-arrives-berlin-ukraine-talks-with-european-allies-2022-01-20, in which Russia has deployed around 100,000 troops https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-military-drills-belarus-create-new-threats-ukraine-2022-01-18 near its neighbour's border in preparation for what the United States says - and Moscow denies - could be an imminent invasion https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/keep-defender-guessing-russias-military-options-ukraine-2022-01-14.