Press release

Duma requests Putin recognises Donetsk and Luhansk as independent: Foreign Secretary's statement

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has criticised the Duma's request that Vladimir Putin recognises the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said:

The Duma’s request that Vladimir Putin recognises the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent shows flagrant disregard for Russia’s commitments under the Minsk agreements. If this request were accepted, it would represent a further attack on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, signal an end to the Minsk process and demonstrate a Russian decision to choose a path of confrontation over dialogue.

We urge Russia to end its pattern of destabilising behaviour against Ukraine and to implement the commitments it has freely signed up to, including the Minsk agreements.

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Published 17 February 2022