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The
State Duma, Russia's lower house, is due on Monday to set a date
to vote on a group of lawmakers' proposal to appeal to President
Vladimir Putin to recognise the two self-proclaimed republics
that are supported by Moscow.
Formal recognition of the east Ukrainian regions controlled by
pro-Russian separatists since 2014 would further inflame
tensions over a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine that has
raised fears of an invasion. Moscow denies invasion plans.
"This is a very serious and crucial question. We're talking
about protecting the lives of our citizens and compatriots,"
powerful State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said in a
statement on Friday.
Raising the prospect of new consultations, Volodin said the Duma
would also decide on Monday whether to first ask the Foreign
Ministry and other government agencies for feedback on their
idea. Such a move would probably entail delays.
He said that only two Duma factions - the Communists and Just
Russia, which together control 85 of its 450 seats - wanted to
vote immediately to ask Putin to recognise the regions.
The decision is expected to be made by a council of the Duma's
most senior lawmakers.
Volodin is a member of the pro-Putin United Russia party that
dominates the lower house of parliament and the political
landscape across the country.
United Russia, which has 325 seats in the house, supported a
separate idea to send Russian military supplies and other aid to
the breakaway regions, Volodin said.
(Reporting by Maria Tsvetkova; editing by Tom Balmforth and Mark
Heinrich)
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