Moscow. February 22. INTERFAX - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed decrees on the recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics.
The texts of the decrees were published on Tuesday on the official Internet portal of legal information.
"Taking into account the will of the people of the Donetsk People's Republic, the refusal of Ukraine from a peaceful settlement of the conflict in accordance with the Minsk Agreements, to recognize the Donetsk People's Republic as a sovereign and independent state," the decree says.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation should hold negotiations with the Donetsk Side on the establishment of diplomatic relations and formalize the agreement reached with appropriate documents," the document emphasizes.
"To instruct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation to hold negotiations with the Donetsk Side with the participation of interested federal executive authorities on the preparation of a draft treaty on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance and submit a proposal for its signing in accordance with the established procedure," the message reads.
"In connection with the appeal of the Head of the Donetsk People's Republic to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation to ensure, prior to the conclusion of the agreement referred to in paragraph 3 of this Decree, the exercise of peacekeeping functions by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic," the document says.
"Taking into account the will of the people of the Luhansk People's Republic, Ukraine's refusal to peacefully resolve the conflict in accordance with the Minsk Agreements, to recognize the Luhansk People's Republic as a sovereign and independent state," another decree says.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation should hold negotiations with the Luhansk Side on the establishment of diplomatic relations and the agreement reached should be formalized with appropriate documents," the document says.
"To instruct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation to hold negotiations with the Luhansk Side with the participation of interested federal executive authorities on the preparation of a draft treaty on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance and submit a proposal for its signing in accordance with the established procedure," the decree emphasizes.
"In connection with the appeal of the Head of the Luhansk People's Republic to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation to ensure, prior to the conclusion of the agreement referred to in paragraph 3 of this Decree, the exercise of peacekeeping functions by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of the Luhansk People's Republic," the decree emphasizes.