The Russian president announced that he recognized the DPR and LPR as independent states.

In his televised address to the nation on February 21, Putin accused Ukraine of being unwilling to comply with the Minsk agreements.

In addition, he noted that Ukraine's movement into NATO poses a threat to the Russian Federation and accused the U.S. of pursuing an anti-Russian policy through Ukraine. 

"I consider it necessary to make a long overdue decision: to immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic. I ask the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to support this decision and then ratify the treaty of friendship and mutual assistance with both republics," Putin said.

Recall, the signing was preceded by a meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation on the situation in Donbas and Putin's address to the citizens of Russia.