Viktor Bondarev, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security, called on the senators to “stop the bloodshed” by approving the law on ratification. According to him, the ratification of the treaties is in the interests of Russia, as it “contributes to the strengthening of world peace” and strengthens “historically established strong ties, traditions of friendship and good communication between our peoples.”
Russia should enable “millions of compatriots to live without fear for the lives of their children,” said Grigory Karasin, chairman of the Federation Council committee on international affairs. According to him, in the issue of ratification, we are talking about a “humanitarian action.”
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According to Russia’s treaties with the LPR and DPR, relations between the parties will be based on “mutual respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity.” The treaties provide that Russia and the republics will closely cooperate in protecting each other’s sovereignty and security, in particular, jointly countering “acts of aggression.” In addition, the documents give the parties the right to use the armed forces, military infrastructure and military bases on their territory.
The explanatory note states that the document “creates a legal basis for the presence of Russian military units on the territory of the DPR/LPR” to maintain peace in the region. The agreements also stipulate cooperation in the cultural sphere, healthcare, education, science, tourism, and sports.
Ratification of an international treaty occurs through the adoption of a federal law. International treaties, the decisions to sign which were taken by the President of Russia, must be submitted to the Parliament by him. After approval by the Federal Assembly, the president signs the instrument of ratification.
Russia recognizes the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics (LPR and DPR) within the borders that are now actually established, Andrey Klimov, deputy chairman of the Federation Council committee on international affairs, said earlier. “Everything else is outside the scope of legal actions,” he emphasized. The same position was expressed to RBC by Svetlana Zhurova, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, noting that the agreement does not define any boundaries.
At the same time, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that before defining the borders of the DPR and LPR recognized by Russia, it is necessary first to ratify the friendship treaty. On the eve of the Security Council, Interior Minister Volodymyr Kolokoltsev proposed to recognize the republics within the borders of the respective regions of Ukraine until 2014. Vice Speaker of the LPR Parliament Dmitry Khoroshilov on February 22 also emphasized: The territory of the Luhansk People’s Republic is the territory of the former Luhansk region.
The Duma announced the possible recognition of the DPR and LPR within the boundaries of the referendum
Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev, after a joint meeting of the relevant committees of the upper house, which took place on the morning of February 22, declined to comment on the borders.
Later, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said that Russia recognizes the DPR and LPR within the boundaries in which they “exercise their powers of power.”
On the evening of February 21, President Vladimir Putin addressed the Russians, in which he reproached Kiev for failing to comply with the Minsk agreements and the ongoing escalation in eastern Ukraine. After that, he, as well as the heads of the DPR and LPR, Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik, signed documents on the recognition of the republics. Earlier that day, a meeting of the Security Council was held, all participants of which proposed to recognize the independence of the LPR and DPR.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said at the Security Council that “Russia simply already has a moral duty” towards the republics and, despite threats of sanctions, it is impossible to postpone the issue of recognizing the DPR and LPR.