Stoltenberg stressed that the occupied territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions are Ukrainian lands.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization reacted to the decision of the State Duma of Russia to adopt a bill recognizing the self-proclaimed “LDNR” as “independent”. The NATO Secretary General believes that the recognition of the L/DPR will be a gross violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and the Minsk agreements.
He said this at a briefing in Brussels on Tuesday, February 15.
The Secretary General emphasized that the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions are Ukrainian lands. He also assures that Russia's recognition of “people's republics” will undermine efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in Donbas.
“If this happens, it will again become a gross violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Because there is no doubt that Donetsk and Lugansk are part of Ukraine within internationally recognized borders. Such recognition will be a violation of international law and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, and will also be a violation of the Minsk agreements . It will complicate the search for a political solution,” the Alliance Secretary General said.
Recall that on February 15, the State Duma of the Russian Federation took the first step towards recognizing the self-proclaimed “LPR” and “DPR” by adopting the relevant bill. Now the document is waiting for the decision of Vladimir Putin.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry previously stated that if Russia recognizes ORDLO, this de facto and de jure will mean a withdrawal from the Minsk agreements.
The actions of the Russian Duma have already reacted in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. There, a resolution was adopted calling on the international community not to recognize the independence of the self-proclaimed entities. Parliament is also calling for additional sanctions against Russia to prevent further escalation. Recognition of the so-called “LPR” and “DPR” will only aggravate the situation on the borders of Ukraine, and, accordingly, Europe, MPs insist.
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