Ukraine Recalled Temporary Chargé d'Affaires From Russia

• 22.02.2022, 14:42

The diplomat has been summoned to Kiev for consultations.

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recalled Vasyl Pokotylo, Ukraine's temporary chargé d'affaires in Russia, for consultations following Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognise the "L/DPR".

"Following the Russian leadership's unlawful decisions to recognize the 'independence' of the quasi-entities it has created in Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories - the so-called 'Luhansk People's Republic' and 'Donetsk People's Republic'," the Ukrainian foreign ministry said in the statement.

Other details were not reported.

On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered an address in which he said that Russia had recognized the "independence" of the so-called LDPR.

This happened amid the escalation in Donbas provoked by Russia and the threat of invasion of the rest of Ukraine by Russian troops.

Following this decision, at a UN Security Council meeting, Ukraine called on Russia to revoke its decision to recognize the L/DPR and return to the negotiating table. Kiev also condemned the deployment of new Russian occupation troops on Ukrainian territory and demanded their immediate withdrawal.

President Vladimir Zelensky has said in his address that such a move by the Kremlin regime "might mean Russia's unilateral withdrawal from the Minsk agreements".

European Union diplomatic chief Josep Borrell has criticized Russia's actions and expressed support for Ukraine's territorial integrity.

The international community has also condemned such a decision by Russia.

President Joe Biden has imposed sanctions against the L/DPR.

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The German government has called the actions of the Russian authorities "a heavy blow to the peace settlement".