The demands of Russian President Vladimir Putin to demilitarize Ukraine, recognize Russian sovereignty over the annexed Crimea and ensure that Ukraine will never be accepted into NATO are unrealistic, said Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

The list of conditions voiced by Putin on February 22 after he recognized the independence of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, according to the Ukrainian Prime Minister, contradicts the choice of Ukrainian people.

"For a sovereign …

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called unacceptable Russia's decision to recognize the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR).

"From the very beginning of the crisis, we sincerely sought to reduce tensions. In the statement of our Foreign Ministry on the latest events, it was indicated that Russia's decision to recognize the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk republics contradicts the Minsk agreements. It was stressed that this decision is a clear violation …

Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the Russian Defense Ministry to send Russian troops into the territory of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's republics.

According to the decree signed by Putin, the Ministry of Defense is instructed to "ensure the implementation of peacekeeping functions" in the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics with the help of the armed forces of the Russian Federation. According to the decree, the decision was made following the appeals of DPR and LPR leaders, …