We are eternally grateful to Russia for recognition, saving lives– Donbas Republics

The people of the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, or DPR and LPR, were grateful to Russia for protection against Kiev forces and the recognition of their independence.

Senior diplomats of the republics said this on Friday.

"The people of Donbas are eternally grateful to the Russian Federation, President of the Russian Federation (Vladimir Putin), the government, and the parliament for recognising our republics, for saving the lives of our children, our parents, and our loved ones.

We want to live, we want to work, we want peace,'' DPR First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Peresada said after a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.

LPR Foreign Minister,Vladislav Deinego, who was also at the meeting, asked Lavrov to convey his gratitude to Putin.

"The decree recognising the Luhansk and Donetsk people's republics is a very serious decree in the life of the Donbas republics,'' he said.

Putin signed a decree on the recognition of DPR and LPR on Monday.

The move was condemned by the West.

In the early hours of Thursday, Russia began a military operation in Ukraine in response to appeals by the Donbas republics to assist them in defence against attacks by the Ukrainian army, which as they said intensified since last week.

In response to Russia's move, Western nations toughened sanction pressure on Moscow, which is preparing retaliatory measures while maintaining that it has no intention to occupy Ukraine.