Russian-backed separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions – collectively known as the Donbass – broke away from Ukrainian government control in 2014 and proclaimed themselves independent “people’s republics”, until now unrecognised.
Since then, Ukraine says about 15,000 people have been killed in fighting.
Russia denies being a party to the conflict but has backed the separatists in numerous ways, including through covert military support, financial aid, supplies of COVID-19 vaccines and the issue of at least 800,000 Russian passports to residents. Moscow has always denied planning to invade Ukraine.
\What does Russian recognition mean?
For the first time, Russia is saying it does not regard the Donbass as part of Ukraine.
Now the separatists would look to Russia to help them wrest control of parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions still under the control of Ukrainian forces. Moscow can send military forces into the separatist regions openly, using the argument that it is intervening as an ally to protect these territories against Ukraine.
If that happened, it could lead to an open military conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
\What about the Minsk peace process?
Russian recognition effectively kills off the 2014-15 Minsk peace agreements that, although still unimplemented, have until now been seen by all sides, including Moscow, as the best chance for a solution. The accords call for a large degree of autonomy for the two regions inside Ukraine.
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