Putin is considering recognizing the independence of two regions of Ukraine

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin told the Kremlin's Security Council on Monday that it was necessary to consider recognizing the independence of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, a move sure to ignite confrontation with the West and Kiev.

Putin made his televised remarks shortly after the leaders of the two self-declared republics in eastern Ukraine appealed to him to recognize their independence.

The two Moscow-backed regions have jumped to the fore in the crisis that erupted after Russia sent military reinforcements near the Ukraine border, which heightened fears of an imminent invasion.

Russia denies its intention to invade.

Putin told officials he believed Ukraine would not implement the Minsk peace process, which aims to end the conflict between Ukrainian government forces and separatists, which has killed 15,000 people in the mostly Russian-speaking region.

"It became clear to everyone that Ukraine will not do anything about the set of measures of the Minsk process... Russia has made and is still making efforts to solve all the difficult and tragic aspects of the development of events by peaceful means, but we have reached the situation we are in," he added.

Putin made his remarks at the Security Council meeting he chaired, which he said aimed to determine Russia's next steps.

The meeting was attended by Russian officials, including the Minister of Defense and the head of the Federal Security Service.

The head of the security service told Putin that the security situation in Donbass was deteriorating, and that 70,000 people had been evacuated to Russia after separatists announced a mass evacuation on Friday.

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