Russia toys with recognition of breakaway Ukraine regions

The move could be used to justify a Russian incursion, but so far there is no sign of how Vladimir Putin would respond.

Members of the Ukrainian Border Guard patrol the border between Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. Picture: Getty Images.

Russian politicians will consider proposals urging President Vladimir Putin to formally recognise the separatist-controlled regions of eastern Ukraine as independent states, in a move that could justify Moscow’s incursion into an area it no longer considers to be Ukrainian territory.

The State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, said it would consider draft resolutions submitted by the ruling United Russia party and Russia’s Communist Party calling on Mr Putin to acknowledge the sovereignty of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine’s Donbas region.

Russia fomented a separatist conflict in the largely Russian-speaking area in 2014 and then covertly sent military units there to cut off the two largely unrecognised territories from Kiev’s control. Heavy fighting was halted by a peace deal the following year, but Ukrainian and Russian-led forces still trade mortar and sniper fire across the front lines.

The Communist Party is appealing directly to Mr Putin to formally recognise Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states and to negotiate with local leaders on issues such as security and guarantee “protection of their peoples from external threats and the implementation of policies of genocide”, according to a draft of its resolution published last month. The United Russia party supports a similar resolution but has suggested it first be submitted to Russia’s foreign ministry before a first reading in the legislature.

Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the State Duma, said the initiative that received the most votes overnight on Tuesday would be accepted. If politicians adopt the Communist Party’s approach it would immediately be forwarded to Mr Putin, he said. United Russia’s resolution, if adopted, would be submitted to Russia’s foreign ministry and other government agencies for study and feedback, as the party has requested, he said.

The appeals to recognise the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk come as the US and Europe warn that Russia, which has amassed more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine’s borders, is preparing to overrun its smaller neighbour.

Russia denies that it intends to invade Ukraine and instead accuses Kiev, encouraged by Western warmongering, of goading Russia toward a conflict. Moscow has continued to push for adoption of the Minsk agreements, stalemated peace talks that began in Minsk with a faltering ceasefire in 2014 and broader talks the following year. The accord calls for local elections in the Donbas region, the withdrawal of foreign armed troops and returning the border with Russia to Ukrainian control, among other points.

Kiev has balked at many aspects of the deal, citing security concerns.

The Wall Street Journal