The rebel leaders of east Ukraine’s two self-proclaimed republics asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to recognise the independence of their breakaway territories in a coordinated appeal on Monday.
“I ask you to recognise the sovereignty and independence of the Lugansk People’s Republic,” separatist Leonid Pasechnik said in a video aired on Russian state television. Denis Pushilin, the rebel head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, made a similar appeal.
