Not in favor of Ukraine: Putin's conversation with the "DNR/LNR" leaders is their political recognition by the Russian Federation - State Duma deputy

The telephone conversation between the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and the "DNR/LNR" leaders means their political recognition by Russia. This opinion was expressed by the State Duma deputy Andrey Kozenko, who is being actively quoted by the separatist media.

"The direct dialogue of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin with heads of the "LNR" and the "DNR" Igor Plotnitsky and Alexander Zakharchenko increases legitimacy of the "republics" of Donbass", - he stated.

"The alignment of forces along the Ukraine – Donbass line will change after this conversation, and it is far from in favor of Ukraine. The "DNR" and the "LNR" change their status not legally, but politically for now, and yesterday's events were a clear signal to this", – Kozenko believes.

According to him, Putin's telephone conversation with Zakharchenko and Plotnitsky has no less political significance than the February decree of the President of Russia on recognizing in the Russian Federation the documents, issued in the "DNR" and the "LNR".

"By the way, both the president and his press service call the "republics" exactly as their residents approved at the referendums on self-determination in 2014 – the Donetsk and the Luhansk People's Republics. There are no epithets like "self-proclaimed" or "unrecognized", – the Russian deputy noticed.

Kozenko did not exclude that in the near future, terrorists Zakharchenko and Plotnitsky would personally represent the Donbass in international negotiations on ending the armed aggression of Ukraine.