Putin considers recognizing Donetsk and Lugansk republic

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that his government is considering recognizing the independence of east Ukraine’s two republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, following appeals from their leaders. Putin said this during a televised opening of a security council meeting on Monday. This would mean Moscow’s abdication of the 2015 peace deals that recognized Ukraine’s sovereignty over the territory. Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s defense minister spoke of signs that the Ukrainian government is preparing for a full-scale operation to take the separatist-held areas by force.