Tymoshenko announced the need for an international response to Russia's recognition of the DPR and LPR //s0.rbk.ru/v6_top_pics/media/img/2/33/756455173802332.jpg” alt=”Tymoshenko addressed Zelensky with the phrase “the moment of truth has come”” />
Yulia Tymoshenko
For Ukraine, the “moment of truth” has come to consolidate all political and social forces for the sake of protecting and preserving the independence of the country, said the head of the Batkivshchyna party Yulia Tymoshenko addressing President Volodymyr Zelensky. The corresponding post-published on her Facebook page.
Tymoshenko called Russia's decision to recognize the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (in Ukraine, their territories are called “temporarily occupied”.— RBC) « cynical violation” fundamental norms of international law, the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and the Budapest Memorandum.
“I appeal to the President of Ukraine: it is time to consolidate all branches of power, all political and social forces of the country to protect and preserve our independence,” — politician wrote.
Timoshenko called Russia's recognition of the DPR and LPR “a blow to the entire democratic, civilized world” and called on all countries (with the exception of Russia) that signed the Budapest Memorandum to prove by their actions the authenticity of the guarantees provided for in the document and to ensure the territorial integrity of Ukraine. The first step should be the return of Western embassies to Kiev and observers to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Donbass, she believes.
On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin, head of the DPR Denis Pushilin and head Leonid Pasechnik signed documents recognizing the sovereignty of the republics Russia, and also signed treaties of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance. Before that, the authorities of the republics announced the upcoming offensive of Ukraine in the Donbass and began the evacuation of residents to Russia.
After Russia's decision on the DPR and LPR, Zelensky said that Ukraine “will not give anything to anyone” ;, and the country's borders will remain as recognized by the international community. Western countries, NATO and the Council of Europe criticized Russia's decision, the OSCE called on Moscow “to refrain from any military intervention to implement this unfortunate decision.” At the same time, a number of countries, including Syria, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh, welcomed this decision.