Putin signs decrees recognizing DPR, LPR as independent states, tasks Russian army with peace mission

MOSCOW. Feb 22 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed decrees on recognizing the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) as independent states.

The decrees were published on the official database of legal information early on Tuesday.

"Taking into account the will of the people of the Donetsk People's Republic and Ukraine's refusal to peacefully settle the conflict in line with the Minsk Agreements, the Donetsk People's Republic shall be recognized as a sovereign and independent state," one of the decrees says.

"The Russian Foreign Ministry shall conduct negotiations with the Donetsk Side on establishing diplomatic relations and formalize an agreement reached via relevant documents," it says.

"The Russian Foreign Ministry shall be instructed to conduct negotiations with the Donetsk Side involving the relevant federal executive bodies on preparing a draft treaty on friendship, cooperation, and mutual assistance and submit a proposal on signing it in line with the established procedure," it says.

"In view of an appeal by the head of the Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian Defense Ministry shall ensure that the Russian Armed Forces perform peacekeeping functions in the Donetsk People's Republic pending the conclusion of the treaty mentioned in Clause 3 of this Decree," it says.

"Taking into account the will of the people of the Luhansk People's Republic and Ukraine's refusal to peacefully settle the conflict in line with the Minsk Agreements, the Luhansk People's Republic shall be recognized as a sovereign and independent state," the other decree says.

"The Russian Foreign Ministry shall conduct negotiations with the Luhansk Side on establishing diplomatic relations and formalize an agreement reached via relevant documents," it says.

"The Russian Foreign Ministry shall be instructed to conduct negotiations with the Luhansk Side involving the relevant federal executive bodies on preparing a draft treaty on friendship, cooperation, and mutual assistance and submit a proposal on signing it in line with the established procedure," it says.

"In view of an appeal by the head of the Luhansk People's Republic, the Russian Defense Ministry shall ensure that the Russian Armed Forces perform peacekeeping functions in the Donetsk People's Republic pending the conclusion of the treaty mentioned in Clause 3 of this Decree," it says.

The decrees take effect immediately.