The Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the EU urged not to exaggerate the political significance of issuing passports
The issuance of Russian passports to residents of the DPR and LPR, as stipulated by the decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin, will in no way affect the Minsk agreements.
Russia's permanent representative to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, stated this in an interview with Izvestia, according to whom the issue of passports is far from new.
“It was put in place by life itself quite a long time ago, since it’s already not easy for people to live there. And in the absence of documents for movement, because many had already expired Ukrainian passports, people found themselves locked in their beloved, but still small, homeland by force of circumstances. This is a completely practical measure. One should not exaggerate its political significance and link it with the Minsk agreements,” the Russian Federation said to the EU.
He also assessed the statements of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavel Klimkin, who called Russia’s humanitarian gesture “a continuation of aggression” and a new “passport” stage in the occupation of Donbass.”
“I think the position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is unlikely to be decisive for residents of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics if they want to obtain Russian citizenship,” Chizhov noted, recalling that granting citizenship to compatriots is a global practice.
Russian Permanent Representative to the EU urged against exaggerating the political significance of issuing passports