Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone attacked the main road in the town of Harouf, South Lebanon.
Lebanese President: Israeli aggression on Blida took place in aftermath of meeting of ceasefire monitoring committee.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun asks Commander of Lebanese Army to confront any Israeli incursion into liberated Lebanese territory in the South.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli aircraft launch series of strikes on area of Jarmaq, South Lebanon.
Reuters: Afghanistan and Pakistan agree to restart peace talks in Istanbul.
Al-Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli occupation forces withdraw from the Blida municipality building two hours after occupying it, and the Lebanese army enters
Pakistani army: 6 soldiers and 7 militants killed in clash near the Afghan border
Israeli media: Sirens sound in the settlement of Kerem Shalom in the Gaza envelope area
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: We still believe in dialogue and prioritize diplomatic solutions with Pakistan; though we are ready for all possibilities.
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: Pakistan purposely obstructed negotiations in Turkey by making unrealistic demands.

Putin recognizes Lugansk, Donetsk people's republics

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 21 Feb 2022 22:51
4 Min Read

Russian President Vladimir Putin recognizes the LPR and DRP as independent republics and asks the house of Representatives to back his decree.

  • x
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia February 21, 2022 (Reuters)
    Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia, February 21, 2022 (Reuters)

Tensions are soaring between Russia and Ukraine over the Donbass region and Moscow's latest statements about intending to sign a decree recognizing the independence of the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) and the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). 

Russia sees that Ukraine is violating the Minsk agreements by not holding dialogue with the leaders of the two self-proclaimed republics and launching offensives against them. Moscow had several times urged Kyiv to comply with the accord it signed in 2014.

In light of the latest rounds of tensions that followed Russian President Vladimir Putin's declaration that Moscow intended to recognize the independence of the DPR and LPR, Vladimir Putin addressed Russia in a televised speech.

The Russian leader began his speech by highlighting to Ukraine and the world that "Ukraine for Russia is not just a neighboring country, but part of its history; our comrades and relatives."

Putin reflected on the history and formation of Ukraine, recalling the times of the Soviet Union, saying, "Historically, Stalin annexed parts of Poland and Romania to Ukraine, as well as Crimea. The Ukrainian state was created by communist Russia by rejecting part of Russia's historical territories. No one asked the people anything."

Though "radicals and nationalists take credit for Ukraine's independence," Putin said, they have nothing to do with it." He saw that the Bolsheviks wanted to stay in power "at any cost", even the satisfaction of any wishes of nationalists. 

"Despite injustice and deceit, Russian people recognized states after the collapse of the Soviet Union and helped CIS countries, including Ukraine," Putin reminded, noting that Russia fully paid off Ukraine's debts, "But Kyiv refused to comply with agreements on the return of property."

The Russian leader denied that Ukraine ever had its "true statehood," underlining that it has been copying a model instead.

On the 2014 crisis, Putin said corruption within Ukraine eroded Ukrainian statehood. "Nationalists took advantage of this in 2014 with support from the West."

He accused the "radicals" who seized power in Ukraine of organized terror, citing the "brutal murder" of people in Odessa, saying Moscow would do "everything to punish these criminals."

Related News

US advances Gaza security force plan amid fragile ceasefire

Trump nuclear test threat risks escalating tensions with China: NYT

Regarding the latest Ukrainian statements about wanting to become a nuclear nation once again, Putin said it was "not empty cockiness," saying it would be easier for Kyiv to manufacture nuclear weapons than for other states, citing foreign support that "cannot be ruled out."

Rising tensions between Ukraine and Russia were also caused by NATO refusing to guarantee Moscow that Kyiv would not be given alliance membership, and Putin brought up NATO's intervention using Ukraine's constitution. "Ukraine's constitution does not allow foreign military bases, but they bypassed it. They call the NATO base 'a mission'," he said.

A key threat that Russia perceives with NATO's eastward expansion is the fact that the alliance would practically have access to Russian territory and would have its arms and military equipment right next to the Russian border. 

"If NATO deploys radar equipment in Ukraine, they can control Russian territory," he said, adding that the US deploying weapons in Ukraine would mean "they put a knife to Russia's throat." Putin concluded that Russia's proposals on security guarantees were rejected out of hand.

At the end of his speech, Putin recognized the independence of the Donetsk People's Republic and Lugansk People's Republic

"I sign the decree to recognize Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics," he announced.

President Putin and Donetsk leader Pushilin signed a bilateral friendship and cooperation agreements between the two parties, and he did so with Lugansk leader Pasechnik.

The head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, had reported on the battle of the Republic's popular forces with Ukrainian troops near the border with Russia.

The chief issued a statement detailing that the Ukrainian armed forces fired more than 1,700 shells at residential areas, bombarding Donetsk with heavy artillery, mortars, grenades, and tanks. "People are dying," noted the statement.

The Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) accused Kyiv of repeatedly shelling the Donbass region with 120mm mortars which are banned by the Minsk accord.

The DPR Ministry of Emergency Situations said Saturday Donetsk had already evacuated 6,600 people, including nearly 2,500 children, over a dramatic escalation of tensions with Ukraine. 

  • United States
  • Nato
  • Lugansk
  • Russia
  • Donbass
  • Donetsk
  • Ukraine
  • Vladimir Putin
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Hi-tech holocaust: Microsoft’s role in Gaza genocide

Microsoft's role in world’s first AI-driven genocide, in Gaza, exposed

  • Technology
  • 28 Oct 2025
What Marr evidently didn't seem to understand was that Hedges isn't saying that Western journalists manipulate the truth, but that they systematically amplify Israeli narratives they know are false. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Western journalists know they have a case to answer for their betrayal of Gaza, and it frightens them

  • Opinion
  • 24 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
An undated photo of US Air Force personnel from the 576th Flight Test Squadron Missile Handling Team installing a cable raceway on an intercontinental ballistic missile at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California (Staff Sgt Jonathan Snyder/US Air Force)
Politics

Trump nuclear test threat risks escalating tensions with China: NYT

Displaced Palestinians walk along the coastal road near Wadi Gaza in the central Gaza Strip, moving toward northern Gaza, Friday, Octtober. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Politics

US advances Gaza security force plan amid fragile ceasefire

Sam Altman, co-founder and chief executive officer, OpenAI, listens to testimony during a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Technology

OpenAI prepares for historic IPO targeting $1 trillion valuation

'Israel' approves illegal settlement expansion in occupied al-Quds
Politics

'Israel' approves illegal settlement expansion in occupied al-Quds

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS