President Vladimir Putin recognizes Donetsk (DPR) and Luhansk (LPR) as sovereign countries.
He also assured cooperation with the newly recognized states in the presence of Donetsk leader Denis Pushilin and Luhansk leader Leonid Pasechinik. Further, President Putin has ordered the Russian Defense Ministry to send troops into Donbas as peacekeepers.
In 2015, both these breakaway regions of Ukrainey declared themselves independent. Though Russia backed the Separatists, it stopped short of recognizing their self-declared independence. Later, an armistice was arrived to resolve the issue based on the Minsk agreement.
With the current standoff between Russia and Ukraine, shelling between the Separatists and Ukrainian forces has increased. Putin stated that the Minsk process has failed, and Ukraine doesn’t seem interested in a peaceful solution.
In his lengthy televised address to the nation, President Putin rued how brotherly Ukraine is transforming into a colony of the West under a Russophobic administration. He also called the decision to recognize the breakaway regions a long pending one.
The move from Russia has hit the stock markets worldwide and has set oil prices surging high — supply concerns have pushed Brent $100 a barrel.
Responding to the developments, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Russia’s move is unilateral and against the Sovereignty of Ukraine. Sharp remarks are also coming from the US and its western allies.
Meanwhile, The UN Security Council convened an urgent late-night meeting to de-escalate tensions. The West sees Russia’s move as a preliminary step towards sending troops into Ukraine.
According to the US Ambassador to UNSC, Linda Thomas- Greenfield, President Putin has torn the Minsk agreement to shreds and will not stop at that. In London, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is charing an emergency Cobra Committee to finalize a barrage of sanctions against Russia.
Addressing Sky News, the UK Health Secretary, Sajid Javed, said tanks and troops from Russia have already been sent. Therefore, we can conclude that the invasion of Ukraine has already begun.