Russia has sent its army to the east of Ukraine: 'LPR' demands from Kiev to give it the entire Luhansk region

Vladimir Putin instructed the Russian Ministry of Defense to ensure the “maintenance of peace” in the “DPR” and “LPR” by Russian armed forces, it follows from published decrees, reports with the BBC.

Photo: Shutterstock

The texts of Putin's decrees were published at night on the official portal of legal information.

Among other things, they say: “In connection with the appeal of the head of the “Donetsk People’s Republic” to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation to ensure, until the conclusion of the agreement named in paragraph 3 of this decree, the implementation of peacekeeping functions by the armed forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of the “Donetsk People’s Republic” " A similar order was given regarding the self-proclaimed “Luhansk People's Republic”.

State Duma deputies and members of the Federation Council have already voted for the ratification of friendship and cooperation treaties with the “DNR” and “LNR”.

A large number of armored vehicles were seen on the territory of the “DPR”, according to Interfax, citing eyewitnesses. Two columns of armored vehicles follow to the north and west of the self-proclaimed republic.

On the subject: The US believes that Russia may use a terrorist attack or a chemical attack as an excuse to attack Ukraine

in the evening Putin made a televised address, in which he recognized the "DNR" and "LNR" as independent states. Since 2014, Moscow has not questioned the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Putin's address contained many historical details and little information about how Putin assesses the situation in the Donbass. Last week there was a sharp increase in the number of shelling. Kiev considers this a provocation amid reports of more than 100 Russian troops near the Ukrainian border.

Addressing Kyiv, Putin demanded a cessation of hostilities, warning of “responsibility for the possible continuation of bloodshed,” but without specifying what he meant. After showing Putin’s address, state television showed the ceremony of signing decrees recognizing the independence of the “DPR” and “LPR.” The details contained in these decrees have now become known.

“Taking into account the will of the people” of the “DPR” and “Ukraine’s refusal to peacefully resolve the conflict” in accordance with the Minsk agreements, Putin, by his decree, decided to recognize this self-proclaimed republic in eastern Ukraine. With the same wording, he recognized the independence of the “LPR”.

The Russian Foreign Ministry Putin instructed to hold “negotiations on the establishment of diplomatic relations” with the “DPR” and “LPR.”
The word “peace” was contained in the title of the Russian military operation carried out in 2008 on the territory of Georgia - then it was about “peace enforcement.” Now we are talking about some “peacekeeping functions.”

Over the past few days, Kiev has stated that it is not going to conduct an offensive operation in the Donbass. The Ukrainian authorities questioned reports of a threat of Russian invasion, which the United States and European countries have been raising since October last year. Moscow also categorically denied plans to send its troops to the territory of Ukraine.

On February 18, the self-proclaimed “DPR” and “LPR” announced the evacuation of women and children to Russia, where they were ready to provide both financial assistance and accommodation services (about 40 regions said they were ready to accept refugees). The next day, the self-proclaimed republics announced the mobilization of men for a military confrontation with the Ukrainian army, which during all this time declared that there were no plans for an offensive in the Donbass.

On February 21, against the backdrop of new statements by the “DPR” and “LPR” about shelling, their leaders turned to Putin with a request to recognize their statehood. This appeal was made less than an hour before the start of an emergency meeting of the Russian Security Council, at which representatives of the highest Russian authorities supported the idea of ​​recognizing the “DNR” and “LNR”. In the evening, Putin announced his decision on television, prompting a sharp reaction from the West. They considered this decision a gross violation of international law and the Minsk agreements on Donbass.
Putin's decree comes into force from the day it is signed.

Reaction

Recognition of the “DPR” and “LPR” will not go unanswered, such an agreement was reached following trilateral negotiations by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, said German government spokesman Steffen Hebeshtreit.

On the evening of February 21, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky announced that he had held urgent consultations with the President of France and the Chancellor of Germany in connection with statements made at the Russian Security Council, after which Putin announced the decision to recognize the “DPR” and “LPR.” After Putin's televised address, Zelensky tweeted that he had spoken with Biden about the matter.

Biden held a conversation with Zelensky and informed him of plans to impose sanctions in response to Russia's recognition of the "DNR" and "LNR", according to the White House. Earlier, the White House press service reported that the US President would soon issue a decree that would prohibit Americans from investing, trading and financing the DNR and LNR. These sanctions are not included in the package of measures that the United States was preparing in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Later it became known that Biden signed a decree on sanctions against the "DNR" and "LNR".

Biden also spoke with Macron and Scholz, who "strongly condemned" Putin's decision to recognize the so-called "DPR" and "LPR" as "independent" regions, the White House said.

Scholz and Macron met with Putin last week in Moscow. The day before, Putin spoke twice with Macron by phone, including at night. The Elysee Palace reported that the presidents of the United States and Russia agreed in principle to hold a summit in order to find a diplomatic way out of the crisis around Ukraine.

Ukraine demands to convene a meeting of the UN Security Council in connection with the illegal actions of Russia in the Donbas, as stated by Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba.

Meanwhile, Putin submitted to the State Duma draft laws on the ratification of treaties on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance between Russia, the “DPR” and the “LPR”, according to a message published on the website of the State Duma (as well as Putin’s decrees, at night). The texts of Russia's bilateral treaties with the "DPR" and "LPR" on friendship and mutual assistance imply joint protection of borders and the possibility of using military bases and military infrastructure. The protection of the borders of the “LPR” and “DPR” will be carried out jointly with Russia. The parties enter into contracts for 10 years with automatic renewal.

The Question of Borders

Immediately after Putin's speech on February 21, the question of the borders in which he recognized these formations remained open in his address to the nation. In accordance with the “constitutions” of the “LPR” and “DPR”, the entire territory of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine are considered their territories, and the militants now control less than half of these regions. It was not clear from Putin's appeal whether he recognized them within the borders that the militants control, or in the imaginary ones described in their "constitutions".

In the State Duma of the Russian Federation, opinions differed on the extent to which the ORDLO should be recognized. In particular, the head of the Russian State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs and Relations with “Compatriots” Leonid Kalashnikov said that Russia can recognize the pseudo-republics “DPR-LPR” within the borders of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine.

In turn, the deputy chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, Andrei Klimov, previously said that Russia recognizes the so-called “LPR” and “DPR” within the borders that are now actually established.

On February 22, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed this position. When asked by journalists at what point the borders of the DPR and LPR are meant, he replied: “When these two republics were proclaimed.” Peskov refused to clarify other details, saying that he had nothing to add. “Within the boundaries within which they exist and were proclaimed,” he repeated.

The terrorist organization "LPR" stated that it considers the entire Lugansk region of Ukraine to be its territory and called on Ukraine to withdraw its troops, reports Ukrainian Truth.

Khoroshilov’s direct speech: “Within the framework of the legislation of our republics, there are laws on the state border, which clearly state that the territory of the Lugansk People’s Republic is the territory of the former Lugansk region... There is our territory occupied by Ukrainian troops. I think we should call on Ukraine to withdraw its troops voluntarily.”
According to Khoroshilov, if this does not happen, then a decision will be made that “will allow us to establish peace and restore our (militants – ed.) territorial integrity throughout the entire territory of the Lugansk People’s Republic.”

Ratification

State Duma deputies and members of the Federation Council voted for the ratification of treaties of friendship and cooperation with the “DPR” and “LPR” - self-proclaimed republics in eastern Ukraine, the recognition of which was announced by President Vladimir Putin the day before, reports with the BBC.

State Duma deputies ratified both treaties unanimously. 399 parliamentarians voted in favor. No one voted “against” and there were no abstentions. State Duma deputies greeted the adoption of the ratification law with a standing ovation.
The deputies also unanimously voted for the accelerated entry into force of both documents. They should come into force from the date of publication, that is, on Tuesday, February 22.

After that, consideration of the issue of ratification of agreements with the “DPR” and “LPR” was held in the Federation Council. Senators also voted unanimously. Laws of ratification must come into force from the moment of official publication.

“Russia recognizes the “DPR” and “LPR” within the boundaries within which the leadership of the “DPR” and “LPR” exercise their powers and jurisdiction,” Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko, whom Putin appointed as his representative during consideration by both houses of parliament, told reporters. the issue of ratification of treaties. That is, Russia recognizes the “LPR” and “DPR” within the borders that are now actually established.

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“This is a very important, possibly historic decision,” Speaker Valentina Matvienko said at the beginning of the meeting, accusing Ukraine of starting a “war against its people.” “Ukraine has been cynically turned into an outpost of an offensive against Russia. The head of state made a difficult, but the only right decision,” Matvienko praised Putin.

As ForumDaily wrote earlier:

• 'Russia demanded to close the way to NATO for Ukraine and Georgia, in the Alliance - they refused.
• Since December, Russia began to accumulate troops on the borders with Ukraine
• Putin warned about possible war with NATO over Crimea and accused the United States of trying to hinder the development of Russia.
• The situation is heating up. Russia removes its diplomats from Ukraine and sends troops to Belarus, allegedly for the sake of exercises, and the US Secretary of State is urgently going to Kiev.
• US suspends embassy in Ukraine and take diplomats out of the country, assuring Ukraine of its full support.
• But due to the aggravation of the crisis, the United States is transferring its embassy in Ukraine from Kiev to Lviv.
• US and Europe announce Russian provocations being prepared to attack Ukraine: propaganda body video.
• In the US, they believe that Russia may invade Ukraine in some moment.
• Putin after his address to the nation signed decrees recognizing independence of the 'LPR' and 'DPR' and friendship with them.

Read also on ForumDaily:

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Donetsk residents on situation in Ukraine: 'We have to reassure those who are not in Donbas'

'The only guarantee of security': well-known Polish figures called for immediate admission of Ukraine to NATO and the EU

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