Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin explained to French leader Emmanuel Macron the position on the possible recognition of the DPR and LPR. Paris has been informed that there is no bill on this score, there is only the initiative of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation - but it must be taken into account. French Foreign Minister Le Drian said earlier that the Kremlin is not serious about the deputies' proposal. The initiative of the State Duma deputies on the issue of recognizing the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DNR and LNR) must be taken into account, no one in the Kremlin expressed the opposite opinion. This was stated by the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov, RIA Novosti reports.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said earlier that during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, Putin allegedly said that the initiative to recognize the independence of Donbass can be “ignored”.

"The nuances here are distorted - in the statement of the Minister," Peskov said. “Of course, there it was said that a question was asked about the draft law. And it was explained that this is not a bill, but an initiative, and that there is no bill on this matter,” the spokesman explained.

He emphasized that “such reasoning on a free topic does not help, but rather harms.

“We have great respect for the French Foreign Minister. In this case, such statements reveal the essence and content of closed confidential negotiations between the heads of state,” Peskov said.

According to a Kremlin spokesman, Putin then replied to Macron that there was no bill, it was just an initiative.

“This is an initiative of the Communist Party, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF). This is their initiative. And it is not supported by the main ruling party, United Russia. But there is such an initiative,” the Russian president said.

French Foreign Minister Jacques-Yves Le Drian, in turn, said at a meeting of the French Senate commission on international affairs that Putin told Macron that this was an initiative of the communists and that he would not take this initiative into account.

“This is very good. Because if this process had gone to the end, the Minsk agreements would have been destroyed,” Le Drian said at a meeting of the Senate commission on international affairs.

He also stated in an interview with The Financial Times that Paris would regard Moscow's recognition of the independence of the DPR and LPR as an act of "unarmed aggression."

According to him, such a step by Russia would definitely "violate the Minsk agreements." However, the minister did not talk about whether the decision of the Russian authorities would entail new Western sanctions.

Peskov also noted that Putin has not yet responded to the appeal of parliamentarians to recognize the independence of the republics - however, he took note of it and will soon make a decision.

On February 15, the State Duma deputies supported the draft resolution developed by the communists on an appeal to President Putin. The parliamentarians are convinced that the recognition of the republics of Donbass will protect the population from external threats and prevent "genocide against the inhabitants of the republics." The Duma also considered the recognition of the LDNR an opportunity to "launch the process of international recognition of both states."

“Kyiv does not comply with the Minsk agreements. Our citizens and compatriots living in Donbass need help and support,” said State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin.

French President Emmanuel Macron asked Russian President Vladimir Putin not to recognize the DPR and LPR, CNN reported on February 15. “We remain vigilant and ask [Putin] not to comply with the request of the Duma,” he said.

At a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Putin said that he would proceed from doing everything to solve the problems of Donbass. "To do this ... from the not fully realized opportunities for the implementation of the Minsk agreements," the President of the Russian Federation said.

Scholz stressed that Russia's recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk would be a "political catastrophe" and a violation of the Minsk agreements.

bbabo.Net