UPSC Articles
Lugansk and Donetsk territories to be recognised as independent
Part of: Prelims and GS-II International Relations
Context: Russian President Vladimir Putin will recognise the independence of eastern Ukraine’s separatist republics, Donetsk and Lugansk territories.
Key takeaways
- Earlier, the rebel leaders of eastern Ukraine’s separatist Donetsk and Lugansk territories had appealed to Mr. Putin to recognise them as independent.
- The conflict in the separatist regions began in 2014, when rebels loyal to Russia seized government buildings in Donetsk and Luhansk, beginning a long trench war with Ukrainian forces.
- More than 13,000 people have died in fighting in the region since.
- Implication: Russia’s recognition of the two regions could allow separatist leaders to request military help from Russia, further easing a path for a military offensive into Ukraine.
- Ukraine would likely interpret that as Russian troops entering Ukrainian territory.
- The decision also means that Minsk peace process will come to an end.
- The Minsk 1 and II accords, reached in 2014 and 2015, had brought a ceasefire between the Russian-backed rebels in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, and put forward a formula for resolving the conflict.
News Source: TH
