“We recognize the LPR and DPR within their borders, proclaimed as a result of the referendum,” he said, noting that this also applies to the territories of Volnovakha and Mariupol.
Lavrov recalled that when the referendum was held in 2014, the issue concerned the territories of the former regions completely, but after the start of the war by Ukraine, which was called an anti-terrorist operation in Kyiv, the regions were divided.
On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation to protect Donbass.
This decision was made after the request of the leadership of the DPR and LPR for help.
The head of the Russian Defense Ministry, Sergei Shoigu, said that the special military operation in Ukraine would continue until the set goals were achieved.
Lavrov announced the start of the next phase of the special operation.