European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned that the EU will “react with unity” to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recognition of the breakaway Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. Von der Leyen accused the Kremlin of violating the Minsk accords, an accusation Moscow has previously leveled at Ukraine.
“The recognition of the two separatist territories in #Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the #Minsk agreements,” Von der Leyen tweeted on Monday.
“The EU and its partners will react with unity, firmness and with determination in solidarity with Ukraine.”
Von der Leyen’s statement came immediately after Putin signed the papers recognizing the independence of the two breakaway regions, which split from Kiev’s control during the Western-backed Maidan coup of 2014. Peace between the regions, together known as the Donbass, was achieved with the signing of the Minsk agreements in 2014 and 2015, but Ukraine has thus far failed to award special status to Donetsk and Lugansk as the accords stipulate.
While both the breakaway territories and Ukrainian forces regularly accuse each other of breaching the Minsk ceasefire, a flareup of artillery and small arms fire on the edges of the Donbass in recent days prompted leaders of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR respectively) to petition Moscow for recognition.