Vladimir Putin has recognised two Moscow-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, effectively hobbling the prospects of a diplomatic solution to the crisis as he put Russia on a war footing.
In an angry televised speech, Russia’s president cast doubts over Ukraine’s statehood and accused the west of using the country as a tool to destroy Russia.
Putin, who devoted long portions of his speech to his version of Ukraine’s modern history, vowed to “punish” those he accused of massacring Russians in Odesa in 2014. He also made clear that his grievances with Kyiv stretched to the country’s existence in its current form.
“You want de-communisation?” he asked, in a reference to Ukraine’s efforts to move beyond its Soviet past and Russia’s influence. “That suits us fine. But don’t stop halfway. We’re ready to show Ukraine what real de-communisation means for it.”
The Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics were then formally recognised at a signing ceremony in the Kremlin after Putin warned that Russia would hold Ukraine responsible for any “ensuing bloodshed” in the region.
The move sparked immediate international condemnation. Boris Johnson, UK prime minister, said the decision to recognise the breakaway republics was a “breach of international law” and “a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine”.
A spokesperson for Olaf Scholz said the German chancellor “condemned” the recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states, adding that the move was “completely at odds with the Minsk agreement on a peaceful solution of the conflict in eastern Ukraine”.
Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, and Charles Michel, European Council president, said the step was “a blatant violation of international law” and said the EU would “react with sanctions against those involved in this illegal act”.
Putin’s decision to ramp up tensions marks one of the gravest moments of the Ukraine crisis, and came as western officials warned that the Russian troops arrayed around Ukraine’s border were taking up positions to enable an imminent invasion.
Putin’s speech followed a meeting with his national security council where Russian officials lined up to denounce Ukraine and the US, disparage the stalled Minsk peace process and urge Putin to recognise the separatists.
It also followed Moscow’s claim that it had destroyed two Ukrainian military vehicles that strayed into its territory, killing five people. The unconfirmed incident would be the first direct clash with Ukrainian forces since Moscow mobilised 190,000 troops on its border.
Markets responded with alarm. Russia’s Moex stock index closed down 10.5 per cent, its steepest fall since Russia seized Crimea in 2014.
