Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree recognizing breakaway Luhansk and Donetsk regions in eastern Ukraine as independent entities.

In an emotional address broadcast on state-run television, the Russian leader made the announcement on Monday evening after signing a decree recognizing the two eastern regions, collectively known as Donbas.

“I believe it is necessary to take a long overdue decision, to immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic,” he said, before state television showed Putin signing mutual aid agreements with rebel leaders in the Kremlin.

Putin, in his address, referred to eastern Ukraine as “ancient Russian lands” and said it was “managed by foreign powers”, warning that some sides “will try to impose sanctions to deter our development.”

The Russian president affirmed that Russia has the full right to protect its national security, regretting that the collapse of the Soviet Union saw Russia ‘robbed’. He also noted in his speech that Ukraine has been reduced to the level of a US ‘colony’ with a ‘puppet regime’.

Source: Agencies and Al-Manar English Website