Donetsk residents celebrate recognition of their independence by Russia on 21 February, 2022. (Photo Credit: Alexander Ryumin/TASS)
Following the landmark move by Russian President Vladimir Putin to recognize the independence of the republics of Luhansk and Donestk on 21 February, the Syrian and Yemeni governments have announced their willingness to collaborate with the newly formed states.
“Syria supports President Vladimir Putin’s decision to recognize the republics of Luhansk and Donetsk and will cooperate with them,” Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad said during a speech at the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow.
Mikdad went on to add that “what the West is doing against Russia is similar to what it did against Syria during the terrorist war,” highlighting that any nation that refuses to bend the knee to US interests is immediately labeled as “hostile to democracy.”
“For more than eleven years, Syria has been subjected to an unprecedented terrorist war, and of course everyone knows that we have achieved an important field victory over terrorism thanks to our armed forces and the support of allies and friends, led by Russia,” Syria’s top diplomat highlighted.
At the same time Yemen’s National Salvation Government (NSG) has also thrown their support behind the Kremlin’s decision.
A prominent member of the Supreme Political Council in Yemen, Muhammad Ali al-Houthi, said in a tweet: “We support the recognition of Donetsk and Lugansk as independent republics.”
نؤيد الاعتراف بدونيتسك ولوغانسك جمهوريتين مستقلتين
وندعو الى ضبط النفس وعدم الانزلاق في حرب يراد لها استنزاف القدرات الروسية— محمد علي الحوثي (@Moh_Alhouthi) February 21, 2022
Al-Houthi went on to call “for restraint and not to slip into a war intended to drain Russian capabilities.”
For their part, Iranian officials say they are closely following the developments in Eastern Europe.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran calls on all parties to exercise restraint and believes that any action that could further escalate the tensions should be avoided,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said during a news briefing on 22 February.
The spokesman also urged all sides to opt for resolving issues via dialogue and peaceful means, before adding that the meddling and provocative measures of NATO, led by the US, “have unfortunately made conditions in the region more complicated.”
Soon after the Russian President signed a decree officially recognizing the independence of Luhansk and Donetsk, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced that Washington will “issue an Executive Order that will prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by US persons to, from, or in the [newly formed republics].”
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Washington’s “support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as for the government and people of Ukraine is unwavering.”