(ANSA) - ROME, FEBRUARY 16 - Russian President Vladimir Putin has "taken note" of the request of the Duma - the lower branch of the Moscow Parliament - to recognize the separatist self-proclaimed separatist republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, in south-eastern Ukraine, but an initiative such would not comply with the Minsk agreements.
This was stated by the spokesman of the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, quoted by TASS.
In the past few hours, the United States had condemned the hypothesis of recognition.
(HANDLE).