“I consider it necessary to make this decision, which had matured for a long time: to immediately recognize the independence of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic”
Vladimir Putin recognized on Monday the independence of the pro-Russian separatist territories of Ukraine and announced the signing of “friendship and mutual aid” agreements.
“I consider it necessary to take this decision, which had matured for a long time: to immediately recognize the independence of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic,” he said in a televised speech, while asking the Russian Parliament “to approve this decision and then ratify the friendship and mutual aid agreements with the two republics”.