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Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree on Monday recognising the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR, respectively) in eastern Ukraine’s war-torn region.
Much of Europe is concerned that Russia would use this as an excuse to launch a larger military assault in Ukraine, potentially leading to open conflict.
While these anxieties grow in Western countries, pro-Putin figures in Russia celebrate.
The proclamation was applauded by the press and pro-government commentators, with Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of Russia’s state-owned news network RT and a longtime champion for the recognition of the Donbas people’s republics, calling it a “overdue move.”
On her Telegram channel, she wished Donbas a happy birthday.
“Lads, happiness isn’t measured in euros!” As the rouble plummeted against the euro, Olga Skabeeva, host of the Russia 1 TV program, posted on her Telegram. “The Russian world and Russian people live on!”
Locals in Donbas fired fireworks and waved Russian flags in celebration, expressing hope that Russia’s recognition would finally mean the threat of a bloody conflict, which had loomed over their heads for eight years, was drawing to a close, according to war correspondent Alexander Kots of the Komsomolskaya Pravda tabloid and Semyon Pegov’s WarGonzo YouTube channel.
“Recognition does not start a war, but it does put an end to these eight years of agony,” journalist Oleg Kashin commented on Telegram. “There is no need to think of Putin as a grandfather who has gone [crazy].”
Some regular Russians, such as 60-year-old Artur from Saint Petersburg, who declined to give his full name, were behind their government.
“Recognizing was the proper step,” he told Al Jazeera, “but it could have been taken yesterday, or even better, in 2014.” “The [Ukrainians] put off the [peace] settlement for eight years, and now they are seeing the logical outcome of their actions.” Russia was already facing fresh sanctions, therefore they made the proper decision in this situation.”
“I believe that was the right decision,” said Nikolai Sergeevich, a 32-year-old Mordovian businessman.