The fact that a Decree “On the recognition in the Russian Federation of documents and vehicle license plates issued to Ukrainian citizens and persons without citizenship permanently residing on the territories of certain regions of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine” which was signed by the President of the Russian Federation means that there is no progress in the Donbas conflict resolution or in reintegrating the uncontrolled territories back into Ukraine.
Ukrainian residents who live on this territories have been restricted in their rights and freedoms, including administrative services and obtaining internationally-recognized documents, for three years. As the conflict resolution takes a lot of time and as links between this territories and Russia are getting stronger signing of this Decree was just a matter of time.
If partial economic blockade from the side of Ukrainian Government and the blockade organized by civilian activists continue, the neхt step the Russian Federation can make may be legalization of its economic relationship with the areas of the Donbas which are in fact controlled by Russia now.
It is also possible that all the enterprises that are currently working according to Ukrainian legislation but are situated on the this territory will be fully controlled by the Russian Federation as well.
Vitaliy Sizov, DII Analytical Department
