The Kremlin's actions blatantly violate international law, said German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock. Germany will provide a coordinated response to Putin's decision.

The recognition of the independence of the separatist self-proclaimed "people's republics" in eastern Ukraine announced by Vladimir Putin is a "blatant violation of international law and a heavy blow to all diplomatic efforts for a peaceful resolution and political solution to the existing conflict," said a statement from German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock, released Monday, February 21, Deutsche Welle reported.

According to her, "years of efforts within the Normandy format and the OSCE are being deliberately derailed without any clear reason," in addition, "Russia's commitment to a diplomatic solution to the crisis has been severely damaged."

Berbock also called the Kremlin's recognition of the independence of the so-called "DPR" and "LPR" "another violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty," which Germany "condemns in the strongest terms. This violation of international law will be responded to, for which Germany is coordinating its actions with partners, said the head of the German Foreign Ministry.

In addition, Berbock's statement noted that Russia has violated its international obligations to implement the Minsk agreements. "We demand that Russia reverse its decision and return to the path of diplomatic and political settlement of the conflict," the document stressed, concluding with an urgent demand to de-escalate the military threat on the border with Ukraine

A few hours earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he recognized the independence of the separatist entities "DPR" and "LPR" in Donbas. On the same day, the EU and the US threatened Russia with sanctions for this decision.