Kyiv ready to view Russia's recognition of self-proclaimed Donbas republics as withdrawal from Minsk Agreements - Ukrainian Foreign Ministry

KYIV. Feb 15 (Interfax) - Russia's recognition of the self-proclaimed Donbas republics would signify its intentional withdrawal from the Minsk Agreements and would deal a strong blow to the political and diplomatic settlement process, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Mykolenko said.

"As the Russian State Duma has adopted a resolution, urging the Russian president to recognize the so-called LPR and DPR, we reaffirm the unwavering stance of Ukraine: the recognition of the LPR and the DPR by Russia would signify its intentional withdrawal from the Minsk Agreements," Mykolenko told Interfax on Tuesday.

A step of the kind would deal a strong blow to the political and diplomatic settlement of the armed conflict in Donbas, he said.