Russia’s State Duma lower house of parliament is asking President Vladimir Putin to recognize the breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine, according to reports from the news agencies AFP and Reuters.
Representatives of the assembly have voted to send a resolution to Putin recognizing Luhansk and Donetsk.
For years, these regions have been controlled by separatist rebels who are believed to have extensive support from Russia, news bureau NTB writes.
Recognition of the two regions could kill off the existing Minsk peace process for east Ukraine to which Russia has said it is committed, Al Jazeera reports.
Russia claims its soldiers are returning to their bases
On Tuesday, the Russian government announced it has begun relocating some of its forces, which have been deployed near Ukraine. The soldiers will allegedly return to their bases.
The relevant military units have now “completed their tasks,” a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense stated on Tuesday.
“We have always said that the forces would return to their permanent bases when the exercises are over. There is nothing new here. This is an ordinary process,” Vladimir Peskov, a spokesman for President Vladimir Putin, said.
He added that Russia would continue to move military forces within its own territory as needed.
Source : © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
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