“I have received an offer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the severance of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Russia. Immediately after the press conference, I will work on this issue,” Zelensky told at a news conference, Dozhd reports.

He added that by recognizing the independence of the DPR and LPR, Russia “creates a legal basis for armed aggression against the Ukraine, while violating all bilateral and multilateral obligations,” in particular the UN Security Council resolution on the Ukraine of 17 February, 2015.

Zelensky allowed martial law to be imposed in the Ukraine in case of a Russian invasion, noting that “we believe that there will be no war.” He also called on Western countries to impose immediate sanctions on Russia, which he said should include the complete closure of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

It should be noted that the situation in Donbas has worsened in recent days, the DPR and LPR have announced numerous shellings by Ukrainian security forces.

Yesterday, on 21 February, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree in the Kremlin recognizing the independence of the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR. In his decrees, Putin instructed the armed forces of the Russian Federation to ensure peace in these areas.