The situation in the Donbass conflict area in eastern Ukraine is highly explosive, and the ceasefire is no longer holding. Now Russia recognizes the “People’s Republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states. Not only Chancellor Scholz reacted with concern.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has recognized the two regions of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine as independent “people’s republics”. The Kremlin chief signed a corresponding decree on Monday after a request from the separatists, as shown by state television. All those involved in the Russian Security Council, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, had also spoken out in favor of recognizing the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The West had warned Putin about this breach of the Minsk Agreement.
According to the Kremlin, Putin had previously informed Chancellor Olaf Scholz about his plans to recognize the self-proclaimed People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. The Russian news agencies and the news agency also reported on these talks. French President Emmanuel Macron was also informed about the plans. The presidential administration in Moscow announced that both had reacted with disappointment.
EU threatens sanctions against Russia
According to a spokesman, Scholz had previously warned against recognizing the two Ukrainian regions as independent states. Such a step would be “in blatant contradiction” to the Minsk agreements on the peaceful settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine and would be a “unilateral breach” of these agreements by Russia, Scholz said in the call with Putin, according to his spokesman.
The “People’s Republics” and the Russian parliament had previously asked Putin to recognize independence. The Russian Security Council had supported the motions with a large majority at a special session.
The EU has threatened Putin with sanctions if he recognizes the separatist areas in eastern Ukraine as independent people’s republics. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in Brussels on Monday that in this case he would “put punitive measures on the table” against Russia. The EU foreign ministers would then have to decide on this.
“We call on President Putin to respect international law and the Minsk agreements and not to recognize the independence of the Luhansk and Donetsk districts,” said Borrell after around ten hours of consultations with the EU foreign ministers. The Kremlin has since announced that Putin wants to recognize the pro-Russian separatist areas.
Russia is aware that the move will have serious consequences in view of the sanctions threatened by the West, said Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev. In view of the situation, however, there is no other option than to recognize the areas. The pressure on Russia will be unprecedented. The hope is that the conflict will cool down afterwards.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov complained that nationalists were in charge in Kiev and that Ukrainian politics there was directed against everything Russian. There is no progress in resolving the conflict. Several speakers complained that the government in Kiev was not fulfilling the peace plan for eastern Ukraine, but was instead using it as a means of exerting pressure on Moscow.
Spiral of violence in eastern Ukraine continues
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. The United States recently warned that recognition of the “People’s Republics” by Moscow would mean “a gross violation of international law.”
According to Western sources, Russia has deployed around 150,000 soldiers on the Ukraine border, fueling fears of a Russian attack. The Kremlin denies any intention to attack.
Note: This text has been updated
Source: Stern
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