Here’s why Moscow is so interested in breakaway territories Donetsk and Luhansk
Where Are Donetsk and Luhansk and What Does Putin Want There?by announcing he’s recognizing a pair of self-proclaimed separatist republics in eastern Ukraine. He also said that he’ll send “peacekeeping forces” to the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, fueling U.S. and European concern that Moscow is moving to take control of land internationally recognized as part of Ukraine.
Russia has repeatedly denied it is planning any attack, and Putin has said his country was not considering annexing the area. Here’s a closer look at the territories and why they are now at the center of attention:They were once Ukraine’s industrial heartland, part of largely Russian-speaking provinces in the nation’s southeast.
A serviceman of the People's Militia of the Luhansk People's Republic is seen at a frontline position near the village of Sokolniki, Slavyanoserbsk District on Feb. 3, 2022.Russia wants Donetsk and Luhansk to gain autonomy that gives them an effective veto over major shifts in Ukraine’s orientation—namely the Western integration backed by a sizable majority of the country’s 41 million population.
and curb corruption. He told diplomats that Ukraine needs a “very clear perspective” about its NATO membership, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance continues to support Ukraine’s efforts to become a member.A cease-fire in the region has always been shaky, with thousands of violations each year, according to international monitors.
The West also has invested a lot financially in Ukraine’s success. The International Monetary Fund has offered support to the nation, billions of dollars have flowed in from the World Bank and the European Union, and the U.S. has provided loan guarantees and military aid.
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