Putin sends Russian forces into Ukraine; grants independence to separatist Lugansk, Donetsk
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has signed decrees recognising separatist regions in Eastern Ukraine as sovereign republics.
The states are now recognised by the Russian parliament as Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR).
“I deem it necessary to make a decision that should have been made a long time ago – to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic,” Mr Putin said in a televised address.
The decrees follow several days of Moscow’s passiveness during which tension between the separatist region and Ukraine has escalated with U.S. intelligence alleging plans by Russia to invade Ukraine.
Mr Putin has also ordered the immediate deployment of Russian troops as a peacekeeping force in the separatist regions.
Before the recognition of the separatist states as independent, the Russian parliament had related with both regions as part of the Ukrainian nation and territory while insisting that Ukraine honours the Minsk agreement it signed with the region in 2014.
The recognition of Donetsk and Lugansk as independent states by Russia would give way for an unrestricted military alliance, economic negotiations, diplomacy and humanitarian aid assistance without seeking permission from Ukraine.
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