The Russian Federation is threatened with new sanctions due to the recognition by their leaders of the independence of the DNR and LNR. US spokesman Jen Psaki notes that the restrictions are not related to the “severe economic measures” prepared with partners by the White House in the event of a further invasion of Ukraine.

There is still no clarity regarding the boundaries within which the DPR and LPR are recognized. As previously reported by Leonid Kalashnikov, the head of the State Duma committee, it is possible to recognize the republics within the borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, most of which are under the control of Ukraine. In case of attempts to take these territories under the control of the republics, the West will regard this as an invasion and will lead to a tough version of sanctions.

But if the Russian Federation recognizes the DPR and LPR within the borders exercising their powers and jurisdictions at the moment, as the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry noted earlier, this will be a signal that Moscow does not plan to expand the borders of the republics. In this case, the sanctions will be less severe.