The Kremlin says President Putin has decided to recognise the independence of two breakaway areas of Ukraine controlled by Russian-backed separatists.
A Kremlin statement said Putin had told the French and German leaders he intended to sign a decree recognising the Donetsk and Luhansk areas as independent states.
![[PHOTOS] Ol Kalou residents turn out in large numbers to vote](https://cdn.radioafrica.digital/image/2026/07/fe42d51c-7f79-466e-94e8-59561f77bbe7.webp)
