- The recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk as “independent” has been met with widespread condemnation from the West amid fears it could provide a pretext for a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has recognised the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk; two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.
He made the announcement in a televised speech to the nation on Monday night.
The Russian leader signed a decree recognizing the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic” (DPR) and the “Luhansk People’s Republic” (LPR) as independent.
It laid out plans for “aid agreements”, including sending “peacekeeping force” between Russia and the two separatist territories.
The move has escalated fears among Western nations about a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Hours after the announcement, Putin instructed the Defense Ministry to send troops into the territories for what the Kremlin called “the function of peacekeeping.”
In a long, fiery address, Putin said he was confident the Russian people would support his decision. He also described Ukraine as inextricably linked to Russia’s history.
Monday’s developments came amid an uptick of violence in the long-running conflict between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian rebels.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron have “expressed disappointment” in phone calls with Putin.
US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said they spoke over the phone during Putin’s speech.
Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter that they “discussed the events of the last hours” in order to forge a common response.
Biden announced shortly thereafter that he will soon pen an executive order to prohibit “new investment, trade, and financing by US persons to, from, or in” the two breakaway regions.