If Russian President Vladimir Putin accepts the Russian parliament’s request for this recognition, it means that Russia wants a “path of conflict to negotiate” to ease tensions around Ukraine, the incumbent said in a statement. British Foreign Office, Liz Dres.
“Duma’s request [câmara baixa do Parlamento] Putin’s recognition of the independence of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Lukansk indicates a blatant disregard for the Minsk agreements, “he added.
The agreements, signed with international mediators in 2014 and 2015, sought to end fighting in the Donbass region, which includes the pro-Russian provinces of Donetsk and Lukansk.
“We urge Russia to put an end to Russia’s unstable conduct and to fulfill its obligations, including the Minsk Accords,” the British diplomat said.
Duma’s call on Tuesday came against a backdrop of intense tensions over Western suspicions that Russia was preparing for an invasion of Ukraine.
Since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, the Ukrainian military has killed more than 14,000 people in clashes with pro-Russian separatists in the east.
During this period, Moscow issued Russian passports to hundreds of thousands of residents in the region.
On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blingen called the Duma proposal a “grave violation of international law.”
