Moscow-Sana
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Russia's recognition of the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics from Ukraine.
In his televised speech on Donbass, Putin said: Ukraine for us is not only a neighboring country, but we have a common culture, a common religion and our relatives there, and contemporary Ukraine was created at the expense of the Russian lands historically.
Putin added that Russia had fully paid Ukraine's debts, but Kiev refused to comply with property return agreements, explaining that it had stolen Russian gas in the past and used energy to blackmail Russia and tried to use dialogue with Russia to bargain with the West.
Putin stressed that external forces played a role in the tense relationship between Russia and Ukraine, and there are those who are pushing Ukraine towards war with Russia..
Ukraine's possible accession to NATO poses a threat to Russia's security.
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