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MADRID, May 12. (EUROPE PRESS) –
Russian President Vladimir Putin has stressed that the Russian Army “will defend the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity” of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, whose independence was recognized by Moscow in February, days before launching a military offensive against Ukraine.
The Kremlin has indicated in its Telegram account that Putin has called the president of the Lugansk People’s Republic, Leonid Pasechnik, on the occasion of a holiday in the republic and has stressed that “the joint efforts” of the Russian forces and the militias of Lugansk will allow to “defend” Lugansk.
“The citizens of the Lugansk People’s Republic celebrate their national holiday in difficult conditions, defending their homeland with weapons in hand,” said the Russian president, who has also opted to promote ties between Moscow and the Lugansk authorities.
In this regard, he stressed that “the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance signed on February 21 –after the recognition of the independence of Donetsk and Lugansk– will serve as the basis for strengthening fraternal and alliance ties between our countries”. Putin already on Wednesday congratulated the President of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Denis Pushilin, on his national holiday.
The people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk declared their independence on May 12, 2014, in the midst of the conflict with the Ukrainian Army in the Donbas region (east). Putin recognized the independence of Lugansk and Donetsk days before February 24, 2022, the date on which he ordered the start of the invasion of Ukrainian territory.