MOSCOW, February 22 abroad.
"Giving consent to the use of the armed forces, we proceed from the fact that these will be peacekeeping forces aimed at maintaining peace and stability in the land of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics".
Valentina MatvienkoChairman of the Federation Council 153 senators unanimously voted for this decision.
Your browser does not support this video format .
According to the text of the president's address, he made his proposal «on the basis of clause d» of part one of Article 102 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation» and in accordance with the treaties of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance with the DPR and LPR. As speaker Valentina Matvienko said, before considering the issue it has already been openly discussed by the relevant committees on constitutional construction, defense, international affairs and the Council of the Chamber. According to the head of the constitutional committee Andrey Klishas, the president determines the total number of formations, areas of their operations, and the period of stay outside of Russia in accordance with the constitution. The resolution comes into force from the moment of its adoption. Recognition of the sovereignty of the republics of Donbass The night before, Putin said in a televised address that he considers it necessary to immediately recognize the sovereignty of the LPR and DPR, and signed the relevant decrees. The President also instructed to ensure the maintenance of peace in the republics. As the head of state explained, he made such a decision, since those who embarked on the path of bloodshed, violence and lawlessness do not recognize any other solution to the conflict in Donbass, except for the military one.
Your browser does not support this video format.
In recent weeks, the situation in the Donbass has escalated: Kiev has concentrated most of its army on the line of contact and is regularly shelling the militias, including with the use of prohibited equipment. Due to the threat of Ukraine's invasion in the self-proclaimed republics, women, children and the elderly began to be evacuated to Russian regions. General mobilization has been announced. The conflict in eastern Ukraine has been going on for eight years, during which time, according to the UN, more than 13,000 people have become its victims, and about 44,000 more have suffered. Tensions in the Donbass are being fueled by the United States and other NATO countries, which are pumping weapons into Ukraine and sending military instructors there. Moscow has repeatedly called for a halt in arms supplies, as this could provoke Kiev into military adventures. returnsPosted by: Olga Filippova