Kremlin says it hopes actions in breakaway Ukraine regions will help restore calm

A spokesman said on Tuesday that the Kremlin is hopeful Russia’s recognition of two regions controlled by Moscow-backed separatists in Ukraine will help restore calm. 

Dmitry Peskov said during a press call the move would help restore peace, Reuters reported.

He would not, however, confirm if Russian soldiers have already gone into the breakaway regions.

Although Russia’s actions have been widely condemned by Western nations, Peskov said Russia is still open to diplomacy to resolve tensions. 

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic as independent regions and said Moscow would consider sending troops to the areas.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed his citizens after Putin’s announcement, urging them not to panic and saying no territory would be given to Russia. 

“We are committed to the peaceful and diplomatic path, we will follow it and only it,” Zelensky said. “But we are on our own land, we are not afraid of anything and anybody, we owe nothing to no one, and we will give nothing to no one.”

Zelensky is also calling on Western allies to impose new sanctions on Russia over its latest actions. 

Western countries have been working for weeks with Moscow and Kyiv to try to resolve tensions without war after Russia amassed more than 150,000 troops and weapons on its border with Ukraine.