Putin's Decrees on Recognizing Donetsk and Luhansk Republics Published

The legal information portal has published the decrees of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics.

"Taking into account the will of the people of the Donetsk People's Republic and Ukraine's refusal to resolve the conflict peacefully according to the Minsk agreements, the Donetsk People's Republic is recognized as a sovereign and independent state. Considering the will of the people of the Luhansk People's Republic and Ukraine's refusal to resolve the conflict peacefully according to the Minsk agreements, the Luhansk People's Republic is recognized as a sovereign and independent state," the documents state.

The President has also submitted friendship, cooperation, and mutual assistance treaties with the republics of Donbas for ratification to the State Duma. The Chairman of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, has already sent them to the relevant committees.

Friendship and defense: it is expected that the mutual assistance treaties will be concluded for a period of ten years. "It will automatically extend for another five years unless either party provides written notice of its desire to terminate it no later than six months before the expiration of the next term," states Article 29 of the cooperation treaty with the DPR. The same wording is found in the agreement with the LPR. The agreements provide for the recognition of documents issued by the state bodies of the parties. Additionally, Russia and the Donbas republics affirm and respect each other's territorial integrity and inviolability and will jointly defend them.