The leaders of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine have asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for military assistance, said a Kremlin spokesperson on Wednesday, as Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said U.S. intelligence has determined that more military forces have entered the two regions. Russian President Vladimir Putin “received letters of appeal from the head of the Luhansk People’s Republic Leonid Pasechnik and the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in remarks to state-run media, referring to the names of the breakaway regions. Peskov alleged that the two heads of the separatist regions believe there are “threats from Kyiv” against citizens in Donetsk and Luhansk. Ukrainian officials have categorically denied attacking the Russian military or forces loyal to the two separatist regions, while Kirby told reporters that he believes Moscow is attempting “false flags” to justify an invasion of Ukraine. “We continue to see …