Putin recognizes the independence of Ukraine's separatist districts: "An integral part of Russia"

The Russian president's move has heightened fears of an invasion and apparently put an end to the possibility of a summit meeting with US President Biden. Emergency and talked to Biden

Guy Elster

21/02/2022

Monday, 21 February 2022, 22:12 Updated: 22:42

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In video: Putin signs recognition of the independence of separatist districts in Ukraine (Edited by: Aviad Ballali)

Russian President Vladimir Putin this evening (Monday) recognized the independence of the separatist provinces in eastern Ukraine, a move that increases fears of an invasion and apparently puts an end to the possibility of a summit meeting with US President Joe Biden.

The EU has condemned the imposition of sanctions on Moscow, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zalansky has convened an emergency meeting and talked with Biden about the latest developments.

The White House said Biden would approve sanctions on separatist counties.

After a vigorous speech that lasted about an hour, in which he effectively denied the justification for the existence of modern Ukraine and attacked its eastern NATO expansion, Putin signed an order recognizing the independence of the two provinces alongside their leaders. Russian media documented fireworks fired at celebrations in separatist areas.

"The situation in eastern Ukraine is critical," Putin said in a speech to the nation in which he attacked Soviet communist leaders in creating a "fictitious" state in Ukraine.

"Ukraine is an integral part of our history, 'Eastern Ukraine is part of Russia's historic lands.'

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Putin signed an order recognizing the independence of separatist districts in eastern Ukraine

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Putin signs order (Photo: Reuters)

Putin was unimpressed by the threat of Western sanctions, saying these would be imposed on Russia anyway.

He said Russia had a right to defend its security and stated that it would never "abandon its sovereignty and national values".

Among other things, he claimed that NATO had breached its commitments not to expand east, and that Russia had been "robbed" with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the independence of the republics that made them up

. The leaders of the "People's Republics" of Donetsk and Lugansk appealed to Moscow earlier today to recognize their independence and help them economically and militarily, amid escalations in the fighting with the Ukrainian army in recent days.

Kiev blamed the rebels, who launched an uprising against its rule in 2014, for the ceasefire collapse in the Donbass region and accused them of trying to drag it into provocations that would justify Russian intervention.

Putin has deployed up to 190,000 troops on Ukraine's borders in recent weeks, but Moscow denies it has any intention of invading its neighbor.

Separatist celebrations after the recognition of the provinces' independence (Photo: Reuters)

During the day, Russia claimed that Ukrainian army saboteurs tried to infiltrate its territory in armored vehicles and that five of them were killed.

Kiev said it was "Pike News", and Moscow's claims, which could not be confirmed, matched the scenario presented by Western countries in recent weeks - the implementation of a "false flag" operation as training ground for military involvement.

The recognition of the independence of the separatist provinces is completely contrary to the ceasefire agreements signed in Minsk in 2015 mediated by France and Germany.

They are intended to form the basis for negotiations to end the conflict, but Moscow and Kiev blame each other for the failure of the process.

It was only at the beginning of the day that there was hope for the diplomatic path, when the White House announced that Biden had given Macron "principled" consent to meet with Putin on the condition that he not invade Ukraine.

However, the Kremlin was quick to cool its enthusiasm when it announced that there was no specific plan for another meeting between the leaders, scheduled to meet about a year ago in Switzerland.

Biden remained in Washington and canceled his plan to stay at his home in Delaware, and he convened his National Security Council again today.

At the same time, the White House said Biden had approved sanctions on separatist provinces in Eastern Europe.

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