Putin ratified “friendship treaties” with the LPR and DPR

President Vladimir Putin signed laws ratifying “treaties of friendship and cooperation” with the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics. The texts were posted on the Kremlin website .

The State Duma and the Federation Council adopted both laws during the day. The “friendship agreements” themselves were signed between Putin and the heads of the self-proclaimed republics of Donbass in the Kremlin on February 21.

Although the agreements provide for the construction of Russian military bases and other infrastructure in the DPR and LPR, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that this “has not been discussed yet.” The “friendship treaties” also stipulate “collective self-defense” of the self-proclaimed republics with Russia.