Moscow: Amid heightened tensions with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the independence of two separatist regions of Ukraine — Donetsk and Lugansk — in the early hours of Tuesday.
After his televised address to the nation, Putin also officially signed friendship and aid agreements with the Russia-backed separatist leaders of Ukraine.
It also said that the President had informed his decision to French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
“I believe it is necessary to take a long overdue decision, to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic,” he said, before state television showed Putin signing mutual aid agreements with rebel leaders in the Kremlin.
“In the near future, the president plans to sign the order,” the Kremlin said. It added that Macron and Scholz had “expressed disappointment” over the decision over a phone conversation with Putin.
The announcement comes after Putin convened an emergency meeting of the Russian Security Council where he talked about recognising the “independence” of Russia-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine.
