DONETSK. Feb 15 (Interfax) - The Donbas region has welcomed the timely decision of the State Duma to ask the Russian president to recognize the self-proclaimed Donetsk (DPR) and Luhansk (LPR) People's Republics, DPR leader Denis Pushilin said.
"We welcome Duma deputies' decision to send the president of Russia a request for the DPR and LPR to be recognized as self-reliant, sovereign and independent states," Pushilin said in a statement, released by his press service on Tuesday.
"[This initiative] is timely in the current situation where Ukraine has considerably increased the presence of its armed forces and equipment on the conflict line, which ultimately attests that Kyiv is not going to honor the Minsk Agreements and settle the conflict peacefully and politically," the statement said.
The LPR also welcomed the move.
"LPR residents welcome the Duma deputies' position. At the same time, we will understand and respect any decision by the Russian leadership," LPR leader Leonid Pasechnik said in a statement obtained by Interfax from his press service.
The Duma vote proved "how concerned the fraternal people are by the existing threat from Kyiv and the West," it said.
"Linguistically, culturally and historically, Donbas always was and remains part of the Russian world. We certainly aim to further strengthen our cross-border cooperation and integration with Russia."
Earlier, a majority in the Duma voted to ask the Russian president to recognize the independence of the DPR and LPR.