Which Countries Support Russia In Recognizing Separatists In Ukraine
Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad expressed support for Putin during an event in Moscow, but did not formally recognize Donetsk and Lugansk | Photo: EFE/EPA/Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia
The announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin of recognition of independence regions of Donetsk and Lugansk, in eastern Ukraine, was severely criticized by the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union, which announced this Tuesday (02) sanctions against Moscow.
Meanwhile, some governments are announcing support for Putin in recognizing the two self-proclaimed republics by pro-Russian separatists in 2014 in the Donbass region.
Syria, whose dictator, Bashar al-Assad, had strong help from Russia in the war against rebels, said he supported Putin, but did not formally recognize the two territories. “Syria supports President Vladimir Putin’s decision to recognize the republics of Lugansk and Donetsk,” Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad declared during an event in Moscow.
“What the West is doing against Russia is similar to what it did against Syria during the terrorist war,” he added.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two other breakaway republics (located in Georgia) that are recognized by Lugansk, Donetsk, Russia and very few other countries, also praised Putin’s move, but with positions about recognition.
South Ossetia already recognized the two republics of Donbass since 2014. “Recognition of Donbass means hope for a better future for tens of millions of people,” said the local leader, Anatoliy Bibilov, in a statement published by the website Eurasianet. “The same recognition from Russia preserved by 13 years the peace and territory of South Ossetia.”
In Abkhazia, where recognition by Lugansk and Donetsk has not yet been reciprocated, leader Aslan Bzhania released a statement praising Putin’s decision.“We are sure that this decision will allow the strengthening of the architecture of security in the region,” Bzhania pointed out in the document. “Furthermore, we believe that Russia’s decision to recognize the Donbass republics will facilitate the formation of a more just and balanced world order, where the rights of small states are reliably protected and the international community hears and respects their voices.”
Belarus, whose dictator, Alexander Lukashenko, was supported by Putin in suppressing a wave of protests in 1280, was in the line of endorsement to the ally, but without recognition of the two republics.
“In such a situation, we perceive with respect and understanding the decision of the Russian side to recognize the independence of the People’s Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. The Republic of Belarus has always actively and consistently advocated a peaceful solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. We still consider diplomatic methods a priority and are ready to contribute to this process in any way possible,” the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Maduro talks about “colonialism” by NATO and the United States
In Latin America, Nicaragua and Venezuela had a similar stance: they supported Putin’s attitude, but without going into the issue of recognition of Lugansk and Donetsk.
“President Putin took a step today , where what it did was recognize some republics that, since the coup of 2014, did not recognize the governments [na Ucrânia] and established their government and fought”, declared Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega.
“In the end, Russia took this step and it is a step that hopefully creates the conditions for an understanding there, because what Russia asks for it’s security and that security can be achieved based on agreements that already existed and that were being breached by the Europeans and the United States”, he added.
Last year, Putin was one of the few state leaders who recognized Ortega’s victory in a scheduled presidential election for arrest of opponents and absence of observers.
In Venezuela, the number 2 of the Chavista dictatorship, Diosdado Cabello, claimed that “Russia has every right to defend its position and territory. the river”.“Russia makes maneuvers with Belarus and that gives them tachycardia [nos Estados Unidos e aliados], because they are used to doing what they want in the world. When countries like Korea [do Norte], among others, face them, [eles] resort to these things, Ukraine is attacking the populations and [elas] flees to Russia , but the bad guy is Russia. The United States acts like that”, said Cabello, in an interview with Unión Radio.
Dictator Nicolás Maduro pointed out that “Venezuela expresses its full support for the defense of Russia” and attacked what he called “ancient complexes of voracious colonialism represented by NATO and neocolonialism” of the American Empire”.
In January, given the West’s refusal to veto Ukraine’s entry into NATO, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Riabkov suggested that Russia could bring missiles or military infrastructure to Venezuela and Cuba.[na Ucrânia]
This Tuesday, the ministry released a statement in which it called on other countries to “follow the Russian example” and recognize the independence of Donetsk and Lugansk.