MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) - Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev believes that it is necessary to recognize the Donbas self-proclaimed republics within the borders that existed before they were occupied by Ukraine.
"Beyond any doubt, it is necessary to recognize these republics, to recognize these republics before the law, but I'd like to submit an amendment here: recognize them within the administrative borders that these republics and the peoples of these republics had before their occupation by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, i.e. within the borders stretching from Mariupol to these historical frontiers," Kolokoltsev said at a meeting of the Russian Security Council on Monday.
The Russian president, in turn, said that the talks on Donbas are at an impasse.
"As regards this negotiating process, [deputy chief of the Russian Presidential Executive Office] Dmitry Kozak has told me that we are at an impasse. It is an impasse, although we have been holding talks for eight years. That's what I mean," he said.