French FM: if Russia recognizes Ukrainian breakaway regions, it would attack without weapons

France’s foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says that if Russia recognises Ukrainian breakaway regions as independent states it would be an “attack without weapons”.

 

Russia’s lower house of parliament voted on Tuesday to ask President Vladimir Putin to recognise de facto Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics. 

 

It is the area known as the Donbass, where separatist forces have been fighting the Ukrainian army since 2014.

 

“It would be in violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty,” Jean-Yves Le Drian added.

 

Russian troops are currently assembled at the Ukrainian border, making threats of invasion. 

 

However, Russia claims that it has no plans to attack.