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Ukraine must recognize DPR, LPR as independent states, says Kremlin

As for Crimea, it is the Russian region and it needs to be recognized both de facto and de jure, Dmitry Peskov also noted

MOSCOW, March 9. /TASS/. The Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) are sovereign independent states, and Ukraine along with other countries need to recognize this, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Wednesday.

Focusing on the recent statement by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky about his willingness for some compromise solutions on the status of Crimea and Donbass, Peskov stressed that Russia’s stance on these issues is "well known" and has been "repeatedly brought to the attention of both the Ukrainian side and the heads of other states during their phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"As for Crimea, it is the Russian region and it needs to be recognized both de facto and de jure. As for the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic, they are sovereign independent states, they are recognized by the Russian Federation. They also should be recognized de facto and de jure," Peskov stressed.

He added that according to the nuances of the compromise solution, which Zelensky mentioned, it is better to address questions to the Ukrainian side.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address on February 24 that in response to a request by the leaders of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation. The Russian head of state stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories. Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that Russian troops were not delivering strikes against Ukrainian cities. It emphasized that Ukrainian military infrastructure was being destroyed through the use of precision weapons. Civilians are not threatened, the Russian military assured.

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