Russian President Vladimir Putin declared during a news conference on February 22 that the Minsk agreements are no longer in effect because Russia has recognized the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR).
He justified his decision to recognize the DPR and LPR’s independence by citing Ukraine’s refusal to abide by the Minsk agreements.
According to Putin, it was impossible to wait any longer.
“In this sense, yes, of course, the Minsk agreement are no more. Why fulfill them if we recognised the independence of these entities,” Putin said, announcing the end of the agreements.
Putin also stated that Moscow recognised the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) within the boundaries specified in their constitutions, that is, within the borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Thus, the Russian president put an end to the issue of the borders of Russia-recognised Donbass republics.
The decree recognising the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics as independent states was signed by the President of Russia on February 21.
Members of the Russian Security Council advised him to take such a decision. The meeting of the Security Council took place after the leaders of the DPR and LPR Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik appealed to Putin on February 21 with a request to recognise the sovereignty of the republics.
Answering a question about Russia’s plans to deploy troops in the Donbass, Putin said:
“Firstly, I did not say that our troops would immediately go there right after our meeting with you here. Secondly, it is generally impossible to predict a specific outline of possible actions, it depends on the specific situation that is going to develop on the spot, on the ground, as they say.”