Vladimir Putin also signed documents on friendship and mutual assistance with the so-called "DPR" and "LPR".
Putin made the announcement in a televised address that followed a meeting on Monday of his Security Council. It comes against a backdrop of heightened concern over Russia’s sustained troop buildup near Ukraine, even as Moscow continues to deny its plans to invade.
The diplomatic flurry continues to try and avert a potential conflict, although those efforts suffered a setback on Monday as Moscow said there were “no concrete plans” for a summit between Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden, throwing into question the fate of a French proposal publicized hours earlier. Biden is meeting with his national security team and being regularly briefed on the latest developments, a White House official said.
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