Russia would “immediately” recognise the independence of two breakaway regions in the east of the country. In a piece of televised theatre, Mr Putin had members of his national security council declare that they favoured the move. Later, after a long speech, he signed agreements on “friendship, co-operation and mutual aid” with the leaders of the would-be statelets, the “people’s republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk. Mr Putin urged parliament, which had advocated the move earlier this month, to ratify the decision quickly. Donetsk and Luhansk, part of the Donbas region dominated by Russian-speakers, have since 2014 been controlled by separatists and so, in effect, by Russia. Why do these regions matter?

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