US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the Russian parliament’s lower house (Duma) recognition of the two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine as independent.
In Tuesday’s vote, the Duma demanded that President Vladimir Putin recognize the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as people’s republics, which declared their independence from Ukraine after the revolutionary movement that overthrew then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014.
The European Union (EU) urged Moscow not to act in line with the vote in the Duma. Approval of the vote in the Duma could further escalate tensions between Russia and Western countries at a time when Russia intensifies its military presence on the Ukrainian border.
“The implementation of this resolution further jeopardizes Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity, violates international law, and undermines Russia’s commitment to resort to diplomacy to bring a peaceful resolution to the crisis,” said Blinken, the US Secretary of State.
Blinken added that if Russia accepts the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, there will be a quick and harsh response from America in full coordination with its allies and partners.
Russia, which denies allegations that it is plotting to invade Ukraine, accuses the West of fueling tensions.
Russia’s recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk regions as independent republics could invalidate the Minsk Agreements reached in 2014 and 2015 after Russian-backed separatists seized territory in Ukraine’s Donbas region. 15,000 people lost their lives in the region where Ukraine has been at war since 2014.
Blinken noted that “the Kremlin’s approval of this decision would mean a complete rejection of the Russian government’s commitments under the Minsk Accords.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had “noted” the lower house’s request, but said it would not be in line with the Minsk Accords, which aim to resolve disputes.
Portions of this news are from Agance France-Presse and Associated Press news agencies.