Russia’s Security Council on Monday called on President Vladimir Putin to recognize the independence of two Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, a move that could give him a pretext to invade Ukraine, particularly after Moscow’s claims that Kyiv forces were attacking the areas.
Ukraine officials denied the attacks Monday, saying the claims were Russian disinformation. Western officials have warned repeatedly that Moscow is manufacturing a reason to invade.
Putin is likely to make a decision later Monday.
All the members of Putin’s Security Council supported recognizing two regions, which call themselves the Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic.
As Ukraine has turned toward the West, Moscow has long been trying to drag it back into Russian orbit, preparing the ground for years, including by issuing Russian passports to 800,000 Ukrainians in the two regions. That gives Russia a pretext to send in forces to “defend” them.
If Russia recognizes the two regions as independent, the separatist leaders could appeal to Moscow to send in forces. The leaders already called for Russian military assistance Monday.
Putin called the extraordinary Security Council meeting after accusing Ukraine of committing “genocide” in the regions last week, without producing evidence.
The Security Council includes Putin’s hawkish military, security and intelligence chiefs, who have emerged as his major source of advice, according to Russian political analysts, as well as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and the heads of Russia’s upper and lower houses of parliament.
The Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic are a major flash point in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and the scene of fighting between Ukrainian forces and separatists that has claimed 14,000 lives since 2014.
The decision to recognize them would beach the 2015 Minsk peace agreement brokered by France and Germany that was designed to return the two regions to Kyiv’s control.
One by one, Security Council officials urged Putin to recognize the regions, arguing that Kyiv was trying to “freeze” the eastern Ukraine conflict, preventing a resolution and leaving Russia to cover the regions’ costs.
Putin said it was clear that Ukraine had no intention of implementing the Minsk agreement, which requires Kyiv to pass laws giving the regions autonomy.
No comments:
Post a Comment