Putin: "Need to Consider Approval of Donbas Separatist Republics' Independence"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on the 21st (local time) that it is necessary to review the issue of recognizing the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), declared by pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine.

According to Russian media, President Putin mentioned this during an expanded National Security Council meeting convened that day. He proposed discussing Russia's response to the escalating conflict in the Donbas region, keeping in mind the request for independence recognition from the two republics.

If Russia recognizes the independence of the republics, it would open the way for openly dispatching troops to the separatist republic forces fighting against the Ukrainian government army. This is highly likely to lead to armed conflict with Ukraine.

Additionally, President Putin pointed out that if Ukraine joins the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the threat to Russia would increase significantly. He argued, "(The West) using Ukraine as a tool for confrontation with Russia poses a serious and very large threat to us."

Former President Dmitry Medvedev also expressed his view at the meeting that "unless the situation in Donbas improves, the independence of the two republics should be recognized."

In this regard, the United States had previously warned that Russia's recognition of the two republics would be a serious violation of international law.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.