Lugansk and Donetsk territories to be recognised as independent 

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