Moscow: The decision on the possible return of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics (DPR and LPR) to Ukraine rests with the residents of the republics, Aleksey Polishchuk, the Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s second CIS department, told Sputnik.
The diplomat noted that for seven-and-a-half years, Russia had been seeking the implementation by Kiev of the Minsk agreements, aimed at the civilised return of Donbas to Ukraine on the terms of a special status and respect for the rights and interests of citizens, adding that back then, Donetsk and Luhansk agreed to this.
But during this time, Kiev did everything to prevent the residents of Donbas from returning, keeping the region in an economic, transport and financial blockade, he said.
“Now, the situation has changed radically. Russia was forced to recognize the sovereignty of the DPR and LPR. Treaties of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance were signed, and at the request of the republics, a special military operation aimed at protecting the population of Donbas, denasification and demilitarisation of Ukraine was launched,” Polishchuk said.
“The question of whether the return Donetsk and Luhansk to Ukraine is possible is better addressed to the residents of these republics,” he added. Polishchuk also said Biolaboratories in Ukraine pose a danger not only to Russia but to the whole of Europe.
“As for biolaboratories on Ukraine’s territory, they pose a danger not only to Russia but to the whole of Europe. Conducting Russia’s special operation in Ukraine is aimed, among other things, at stopping this threat,” Polishchuk said.
As part of the special operation launched in Ukraine on February 24, the Russian armed forces had found 30 biological laboratories in Ukraine, which were fulfilling orders from the US Department of Defence and possibly involved in biological weapons production.
Last week, the Russian Defence Ministry unveiled new findings after analysing documents obtained from experts from Ukrainian biolaboratories. According to the information, Washington spent over 200 million dollars to study pathogens of birds, bats and reptiles in Ukraine and possibility of transmission of African swine fever and anthrax through these animal.
