Russia’s president is escalating the situation in Ukraine.
(Photo: AP)
Moscow Russian President Vladimir Putin recognizes the separatist regions of Luhansk and Donetsk in their much larger original Ukrainian borders. This means that the territorial claims of the separatists, who so far only control about 32 percent of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, go well beyond the area they have previously administered.
This poses a risk of renewed fighting with the Ukrainian government forces that control the rest of the country. Putin said Tuesday that the leaders of the “Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics,” which are recognized as independent states, must negotiate with the Ukrainian government.
At a press conference, Putin also declared the Minsk peace plan for eastern Ukraine to be over. The agreements would have been superfluous with the recognition of the sovereign states, said Putin.
On Tuesday, the president also obtained permission from the Federation Council – the upper house of parliament – for Russian troops to be deployed abroad. Whether he makes use of the right will be decided according to the situation in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. State-related media had previously reported that Russian troops were already in the Donbass.
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The Kremlin chief said the best solution to the conflict over Ukraine would be if the country renounced NATO membership. In this way, the West can also save face, he said. Ukraine insists on being included in the western alliance because it sees itself as a threat from Russia. NATO emphasizes the principle of the countries’ free choice of alliances. According to Putin, Russia, on the other hand, sees itself threatened by NATO in front of its borders.
More: How Putin is playing poker with his “little invasion”.