As per both Russian and western media, Putin's decrees on recognizing independence contains orders to the troops to enter Donetsk region for peacekeeping duties. Wonder why Putin never mentioned it while he spent an hour addressing the nation. Some reports in the western media about troops actually being in already. Russians don't report it, yet.
In the meantime here's a 2019 article about US naval base Putin was talking about
https://navalpost.com/u-s-plan-to-mo...se-at-ukraine/
As per article which I understand to be written by the west:
"Of course this modernisation will annoy Russia side, because they will feel the NATO existence very near. We wonder the next move of Russia to prevent this"