Putin signs treaties giving Russia the right to build military bases in separatist regions of Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin.
(Image credit: Alexey Nikolsky/AFP via Getty Images)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed treaties with the leaders of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine that give Russia the right to build military bases in those areas, Reuters reports.

The self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic were formed in 2014, and Putin on Monday officially recognized them as independent states. The 10-year friendship treaties are identical, and have been submitted by Putin to parliament for ratification. Reuters notes that "on paper," the treaties also give leaders of the separatist regions the right to build military bases in Russia.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.