“I think it is necessary to make a delayed decision, to immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic,” Putin said in a television broadcast, according to AFP.
He then, according to the news agency, signed a decree of recognition, asking Parliament to support the decision.
Putin was also pictured with pro-Russian separatist leaders from eastern Ukraine during a signing ceremony.
According to AFP, they sign agreements on friendship and aid.
Historical justification
“The situation is critical,” Vladimir Putin said early in a televised speech Monday night.
Here he gives a historical explanation for why he wants to recognize areas in eastern Ukraine as independent.
According to the news agency Reuters, he calls Ukraine an “integral part of our own history”. He says eastern Ukraine is considered an old Russian country, and says that modern Ukraine was established by communist Russia.
Russia was “robbed” when the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, Putin told Reuters.
He says Russia is ready to show what real “de-communication” looks like.
The Russian president demanded in the speech that Ukraine immediately end military operations in the east of the country.
“We demand an immediate end to military operations,” Putin said, according to AFP.
“Otherwise, all responsibility for a possible continuation of the bloodshed will be fully on the conscience of the regime in power in Ukraine,” he added.
Putin also reiterated in his speech on Monday that NATO had not met Russia’s security requirements.
Ukraine is applying to participate in NATO’s MAP program, an action plan for future NATO membership. France and Germany are voting against after criticism from Russia. A compromise is reached that Ukraine will one day become a member of the alliance, without specifying how this will happen.
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Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych says no to a free trade agreement with the EU in favor of closer ties with Russia.
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Major protests against Yanukovych lead to his removal. Since then, an arrest warrant has been issued against the former president. Yanukovych flees to Russia.
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Russia takes control of the Crimean peninsula. Russia is being punished with economic sanctions, at the same time as being thrown out of the international forum “G8 countries” (now known as “G7 countries”).
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Pro-Russian separatists take control of parts of the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian government forces strike back, but fail to retake all areas.
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Several ceasefire agreements are being entered into – the most recent in February 2015.
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According to the plan, the so-called Minsk agreements were to form the basis for a peaceful solution, but will never be realized.
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Actor and comedian Volodymyr Zelensky wins the election to become the new president of Ukraine. He promises new peace talks with Russia and an end to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
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Satellite images show Russian troops on the border with Ukraine. The Ukrainian authorities say there are 100,000 Russian soldiers.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin demands that NATO guarantee an end to its eastern expansion and deny Ukraine membership. Biden threatens financial sanctions.
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In a conversation with Ukrainian President Zelensky, President Joe Biden promises that the United States and its allies will react strongly if Russia invades Ukraine.
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Biden warns that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is likely and may be near.
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Leaders of several European NATO countries are meeting with Putin for diplomatic talks on the border situation between Russia and Ukraine. Several countries recommend their citizens to leave Ukraine.
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On 15 February, Minister of Defense Odd Roger Enoksen confirms that Norway is sending around 50 soldiers to NATO ally Lithuania in solidarity with the Defense Alliance. Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt warns of a possible refugee and energy crisis in Europe.
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Russia says military exercise in the Crimean peninsula is ending and withdrawing forces. NATO Secretary General Jens Stolteberg says that so far they have not seen any signs of downsizing from Russia, but that they rather seem to continue the rearmament.
