Vladimir Putin

Putin Formally Recognizes Two Breakaway Regions in Eastern Ukraine

Such a move will be seen as a huge provocation by Ukraine, the U.S. and its European allies, and it could trigger further violence

Putin
SERGEI GUNEYEV/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin formally recognized the independence of two Moscow-backed breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine where Russia has been supporting armed separatists in an eight-year conflict, the Kremlin said Monday.

The move by Putin will likely be seen by the United States and its European allies as a dramatic provocation and possibly part of a pretext to invade Ukraine.

Many experts believe that Moscow's formal recognition will effectively scuttle a previous ceasefire agreement that some Western allies hoped could provide a route out of the crisis.

Over the past week, the Russian parliament and top officials have asked Putin to formally recognize the Ukrainian regions, which have self-proclaimed themselves the Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic. Both have been under the control of Russian-backed separatists since 2014.

Read the full story here on NBCNews.com

Contact Us