This was announced on Twitter by the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmitro Kuleba, after the Kremlin’s announcement, which is based on the friendship, cooperation, and mutual assistance agreements signed on Monday between Moscow and the rebel entities in eastern Ukraine.
The Donetsk and Luhansk republics have asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for help in “repelling military aggression” by Ukraine.
As explained by the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, in their request the rebel entities seek to avoid civilian casualties and prevent a “humanitarian catastrophe” in the territories under their control.
They denounce that the “continuous military aggression” by Ukraine is destroying schools, hospitals, nurseries, and civil and industrial infrastructure, and skewing human lives, including children.
“The actions of the Kiev regime demonstrate the lack of will to end the war in Donbas,” they point out.
Putin asked the Russian Senate on Tuesday for authorization to send troops abroad, that is, to Donbas, allegedly for peacekeeping purposes.
For this reason, the Ukrainian National Defense and Security Council imposed this Wednesday the state of emergency throughout the national territory, with the exception of Donbas -where a special anti-terrorist regime already governs-, which was ratified by the Supreme Rada or Parliament.
In addition, the Ukrainian president, Volodímir Zelenski, announced the mobilization of the reservists to complete an Army that fights on two fronts, the Donbas and the border.
Zelensky has for the time being refrained from imposing martial law in Donbas and severing relations with Russia, as some Ukrainian politicians have demanded.
