21 Feb 2022 18:43

Medvedev: If situation develops without improvement, LPR, DPR will have to be recognized

MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) - If the situation in Donbas keeps worsening, Russia will have no choice but to recognize the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics' (DPR and LPR) independence, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said.

"In my view, if the situation keeps developing this way I've just mentioned, while there are no indications of any improvement, then the only solution in this case is the recognition of the relevant territories as legally independent entities," Medvedev said at a Russian Security Council meeting hosted by President Vladimir Putin on Monday.

"Judging by the indications that we see now, it looks like the situation won't be improving," he said.

About 800,000 Russians are currently living in the DPR and LPR, he said.

"These are citizens of our country. It's obvious to everyone that, for instance, when American citizens face various problems, when only of them is captured somewhere, America conducts special operations. Therefore, it seems to me that, as Security Council members, we can't ignore this fact," he said.