On Monday, February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees declaring two rebel pro-Moscow districts in Ukraine autonomous.
In a ceremony broadcast on Russian state television, the decrees acknowledged the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic, two disputed separatist-held provinces.
Putin’s aggressive decision comes as worries of an invasion of Ukraine grow, and it has been widely condemned by the US, NATO, and the EU.
In a meeting the same day, members of Putin’s Security Council backed the idea.
Following a lengthy statement in which he accused the US and NATO of wanting to convert Ukraine into a military outpost to hurt Russia, Putin urged parliament to recognize separatist regions and approve friendship accords.
“I believe it is imperative to make a long overdue decision: to recognize the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic’s independence and sovereignty,” Putin stated.
“I request that the Russian Federation’s Federal Assembly approve this decision, and that the treaties of friendship and mutual assistance with both republics be ratified. In the near future, these two documents will be produced and signed. We also urge an immediate cease of hostilities from those who have seized and hold power in Kyiv. Otherwise, the dictatorship in charge of Ukraine’s territory will bear sole responsibility for the likely continuation of the slaughter “He went on to say more.
“I am confident in the backing of Russia’s citizens and all patriotic forces as I announce today’s decisions. Thank you for your time and consideration “The Russian president went on to say.
In 2014 after Russian-backed rebels seized government buildings in towns and cities across eastern Ukraine war broke out and intense fighting left portions of the Donbas region’s eastern Luhansk and Donetsk in the hands of Russian-backed separatists.
Russia also annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
The separatist-controlled areas in Donbas became known as the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) and the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). The Ukrainian government in Kyiv says the two regions are Russian-occupied. The self-declared republics were not recognized by any government, including Russia not until today.
The Minsk II agreement of 2015 led to a ceasefire agreement, which neither side (Ukraine and the separatist regions) has kept to
More than 14,000 people have died in the conflict in Donbas since 2014. Ukraine says 1.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes
Reacting to the development, US President Joe Biden said he plans to impose new sanctions on trade and financing in the territories. The executive order will also allow the US to place sanctions on anyone operating in those areas.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday also condemned Russia’s recognition of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics.
“I condemn Russia’s decision to extend recognition to the self-proclaimed ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ and ‘Luhansk People’s Republic.’ This further undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, erodes efforts towards a resolution of the conflict, and violates the Minsk Agreements, to which Russia is a party,” Stoltenberg said in a statement.
Stoltenberg blamed Russia for “[continuing] to fuel the conflict in eastern Ukraine by providing financial and military support to the separatists,” adding that Moscow “is also trying to stage a pretext to invade Ukraine once again.”
“In 2015, the United Nations Security Council, which includes Russia, reaffirmed its full respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Donetsk and Luhansk are part of Ukraine,” he continued.
Stoltenberg said NATO supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within “its internationally recognized borders,” and said the alliance urges Russia “in the strongest possible terms, to choose the path of diplomacy, and to immediately reverse its massive military build-up in and around Ukraine, and withdraw its forces from Ukraine in accordance with its international obligations and commitments.”
The UK through the British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss also condemned the move.
“President Putin’s recognition of the ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ and ‘Luhansk People’s Republics’ as independent states shows flagrant disregard for Russia’s commitments under the Minsk agreements. This step represents a further attack on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, signals and end to the Minsk process and is a violation of the UN Charter. It demonstrates Russia’s decision to choose a path of confrontation over dialogue.
We will coordinate our response with Allies. We will not allow Russia’s violation of its international commitments to go unpunished,” her tweet read.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he has discussed the with US President Joe Biden and said that a meeting of the Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council has started.
“Discussed the events of the last hours with @POTUS. We begin the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council. A conversation with @BorisJohnson is also planned,” Zelensky tweeted.
The European Union also condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s move.
“The recognition of the two separatist territories in Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and the Minsk agreements,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a tweet.
Meanwhile, European Council President Charles Michel echoed der Leyen’s remarks in a tweet of his own, saying “EU and its partners will react with unity, firmness and determination in solidarity.”