Russian President Putin has recognized the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine Donetsk and Luhansk.<\/p>\n
Highlights<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Russian President Putin has recognized the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine Donetsk and Luhansk.<\/p>\n Putin’s announcement paved the way for Russia to openly send troops and weapons to the long-running conflict pitting Ukrainian forces against Moscow-backed rebels.<\/p>\n Russian-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian troops in Donetsk and Luhansk since 2014, with regular violence despite a ceasefire agreement.<\/p>\n Putin signed decrees recognizing the Donetsk and Luhansk regions’ independence, eight years after fighting erupted between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces, and called on lawmakers to approve measures paving the way for military support.<\/p>\n Russia has acquired the proper to create military bases in Ukraine’s two breakaway regions under new agreements with their separatist leaders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"