Ukraine crisis
Putin sends troops to “peacekeeping” in separatist areas
Russian tanks are transferred back to Russia after maneuvers in Belarus (archive image)
© AFP
After Russia recognized the separatist areas in eastern Ukraine, Vladimir Putin orders troops to be sent there. It is not yet clear when this will happen.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian troops to be sent to eastern Ukraine. The army should ensure the maintenance of “peace” in the separatist regions, it said on Monday evening in two decrees to the Ministry of Defense. Shortly before, Putin had recognized the independence of the pro-Russian, so-called “People’s Republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, after describing the Minsk agreements as having no chance of peace in eastern Ukraine.
Violence has increased steadily in recent days
“I consider it necessary to take a long overdue decision, namely to immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic,” Putin said in a speech broadcast on state television on Monday evening. He called on Parliament to “confirm this decision and then ratify the friendship and aid agreements with the two republics”. This should happen on Tuesday.
Violence in the pro-Russian separatist areas had steadily increased in recent days. The separatist leaders of the self-proclaimed “people’s republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk called on Putin on Monday afternoon to recognize their independence from Ukraine.