Russian legislators will pass resolutions on Tuesday calling on President Vladimir Putin to formally recognise the separatist-held territories of eastern Ukraine as separate states. Last month, Russia's Communist Party filed a draught resolution calling on Putin to legally recognise the self-proclaimed republics of Luhansk and Donetsk. Russian recognition of the Donbas has been described by experts as a probable precursor to the region's annexation.
One speaks directly to Putin, while the other, purportedly presented by the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, requests consultations with Russia's Defense and Foreign Ministries prior to his acceptance. Both documents will be discussed at the State Duma session on Tuesday.
The Russian parliamentarians' deliberations came as Ukraine and its Western allies accuse Russia of plotting an invasion of its former Soviet neighbour, with over 100,000 troops stationed on the Ukrainian border, according to the report.
According to observers, Russia might justify an intervention into eastern Ukraine by claiming it is defending the newly minted local population of Russian citizens, having granted over half a million fast-tracked Russian passports to Donbas residents as of mid-2021.
United Russia pressed Putin last month to provide military supplies to the Donetsk and Luhansk republics for the first time in order to protect against alleged Kyiv aggression.
Guterres calls for diplomacy to ease tensions between Russia and Ukraine