KYIV. Feb 15 (Interfax) - The Russian State Duma's resolution to immediately forward an appeal to the Russian president to recognize the self-proclaimed Donetsk (DPR) and Luhansk (LPR) People's Republics effectively "buries" the Minsk Agreements for Donbas, Serhiy Rakhmanin, a member of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada's Holos faction, said.
"What does it mean for Ukraine? I hope that, first, Ukrainian diplomats will promptly react and will make a statement that it means that the Russian Federation has effectively buried the Minsk Agreements. It means that Ukraine has all the grounds it needs to reject the Minsk accord and to quit them at last. It is necessary to work out a mechanism that will allow us to no longer refer to this document in principle and to exempt ourselves from all the risks and dangers linked to this document," Rakhmanin told reporters on Tuesday when commenting on the State Duma's decision.
European Solidarity faction MP Mykola Kniazhytsky, in turn, has said he sees the State Duma's decision as Russia's withdrawal from the Minsk Agreements.
"I think that the decision in and of itself severs the Minsk accords. Russia is effectively pulling out of all Minsk agreements, and it is necessary to look for new formats, and our chance to return to the occupied territories depends on the leadership," Kniazhytsky said.