Hours earlier, both chambers of the Russian Parliament ratified the friendship and cooperation agreements between Russia and the Donetsk and Lugansk republics.
The Federation Council – the Upper House of the Russian Parliament – has approved this Tuesday the use of Russian troops abroad.
According to the document unanimously approved by the 153 parliamentarians who were present, the Russian Armed Forces must be used “on the basis of generally recognized principles and norms of international law.”
“The total number of formations of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, their areas of operation, their tasks, the period of stay outside the territory […] are determined by the President of the Russian Federation in accordance with the Constitution” , indicates the decree, requested by the president.
This Monday, Putin informed during a message to the nation of his decision to “immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty” of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. After finishing his speech, Putin ordered the Ministry of Defense to guarantee the maintenance of peace by the Russian Armed Forces in both people’s republics.
For his part, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko stated on Tuesday that Russia currently has no plans to send its troops to the territory of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, adding that the decision on the matter will be made on the basis of existing threats.