Macron Asks Putin Not to Comply with Duma's Appeal

French President Emmanuel Macron has requested Russian President Vladimir Putin not to comply with the State Duma's appeal to recognize the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR). This was reported by CNN, citing the Elysee Palace.

“We continue to monitor the situation and ask [Putin] not to fulfill the Duma's request,” said the French president.

Earlier, the State Duma of the Russian Federation voted in favor of a bill to recognize the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics during a plenary session. The speaker of the lower house of parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, stated that lawmakers believe that recognizing the DPR and LPR would create grounds to ensure security guarantees and protect the residents of the republics from external threats, as well as to strengthen international peace and regional stability.