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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday denounced a move by Russian lawmakers to recognize two Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine as independent.
Russia’s lower house of parliament, known as the Duma, voted Tuesday to ask President Vladimir Putin to recognize the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, which declared independence from Ukraine in 2014 following the ouster of former President Viktor. Yanukovych during what became known as the Ukrainian revolution.
The European Union has urged Moscow not to take the step the State Duma is seeking. If the president approves such a thing, it could further intensify tensions between Russia and the West after the gathering of Russian troops along the Ukrainian border, which has fueled fears of a Russian invasion.
“The adoption of this resolution would further undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, would constitute a serious violation of international law, would further call into question Russia’s stated commitment to continue the diplomatic path aimed at achieving “a peaceful solution to the crisis,” Mr Blinken said in a statement.
He warned that such an action “would require a swift and determined response from the United States in full coordination with the country’s allies and partners.” Russia has denied plans to attack Ukraine and has accused the West of sparking tensions.
Recognition of the republics could destroy the Minsk agreements reached in 2014-2015 after Russian-backed separatists invaded Ukraine’s Donbas region. Kiev has been at war with breakaway regions since 2014, a conflict in which some 15,000 people have been killed.
“If the Kremlin approves it, it would be a mass rejection by the Russian government of its commitment under the Minsk agreement,” Blinken said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had ‘taken note’ of the lower house’s request, but said it would not be in line with the Minsk agreements, which aim to end the conflict.
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