Putin Informs Macron of His Position on Recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk, Says French Foreign Minister

Russian President Vladimir Putin has told French President Emmanuel Macron that the initiative to recognize the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics will not be taken into account, stated French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.

The State Duma of the Russian Federation voted on Tuesday in favor of the necessity for the president to recognize the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. The leaders of the self-proclaimed republics, Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik, expressed that they welcome the decision of the Duma deputies.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin, during a press conference in Moscow with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, commented on the Duma's appeal, stating that he would continue to do everything possible to address the issues in Donbas, but that the potential of the Minsk agreements has not yet been exhausted.