Ukraine: President Putin announces study of recognition of Donbass separatists
Russian President Vladimir Putin, February 21, 2022. © Alexei Nikolsky/AP
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Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday February 21 that Russia was studying the request made by the two separatist territories in eastern Ukraine to recognize their independence.
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Just before, the leaders of the two separatist territories in eastern Ukraine called on Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday to recognize their independence and to establish “
defense cooperation
”.
These calls, coordinated and broadcast on Russian television, were launched by the leaders of the People's Republic of Donetsk (DNR) and that of Lugansk (LNR), Denis Pushilin and Leonid Passetchnik.
“
The purpose of our meeting today is to listen to our colleagues and determine our next steps in this direction
,” Vladimir Putin said later during a meeting of the Russian Security Council.
The Minsk peace agreements on the conflict between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists have no prospect of implementation, President Vladimir Putin has ruled, accusing Kiev of sabotaging them.
"
We have understood that they have absolutely no prospects
," he said at a meeting of the Russian Security Council.
Meeting between Sergei Lavrov and Antony Blinken on February 24
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on Monday February 21 that he was to meet his American counterpart Antony Blinken in Geneva on Thursday.
“
Such a meeting is scheduled for February 24 in Geneva
,” he said, during a meeting of the Russian Security Council devoted to the Ukrainian crisis and chaired by Vladimir Putin.
The Quai d'Orsay later announced a meeting between Sergueï Lavrov and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian on Friday February 25 in Paris.
Paris is also asking for a meeting "
as soon as possible
" of the contact group on the ceasefire in the Donbass.
During a meeting of the Russian Security Council, President Vladimir Putin considered that Russia faces a "
serious
" and "
very great
" threat in Ukraine.
"
The use of Ukraine as an instrument of confrontation with our country poses a serious, very great threat to us
," Putin told an extraordinary Security Council meeting, saying that Moscow's priority was "not
not confrontation, but security
”.
Reflecting on
late discussions with Emmanuel Macron
, President Putin announces that the French president has told him that Ukrainian leaders are ready to implement the Minsk agreements.
The Russian president also said that Emmanuel Macron had informed him of an evolution in Washington's position on Moscow's security demands, adding, however, that he did not know what this evolution was about.
►Also read: Crisis in Ukraine: Lavrov-Blinken interview on Thursday, Donetsk multiplies alarmist announcements
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Ukraine
Russia
Defense
Vladimir Poutine