Russian President Vladimir Putin will recognise the independence of eastern Ukraine's separatist republics, the Kremlin said in a statement Monday, adding that he had informed the French and German leaders of his decision.
"In the near future, the president plans to sign the order," the Kremlin said, in a statement published before an anticipated national address from Putin.
It added that French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had "expressed disappointment" over the decision in phone calls with Putin.
"At the same time, they indicated their readiness to continue contacts," the Kremlin said.
France and Germany are mediators in the conflict between Kyiv and pro-Russia rebels in eastern Ukraine.
The West has repeatedly warned Russia not to recognise the separatists -- a move that effectively buries a fragile peace process in the region.
Earlier on Monday, the rebel leaders of eastern Ukraine's separatist Donetsk and Lugansk territories had appealed to Putin to recognise them as independent.
The Kremlin said the rebels had made the appeal "in connection with military aggression carried out by the Ukrainian authorities and the mass shelling of the territory of Donbas, which leads to suffering in the civilian population."
Also on Monday, the Russian leader held an unscheduled Kremlin national security meeting on Monday, in which his top officials made empassioned speeches to him in favour of recognising the separatists.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Russia Lacks Numbers For Major Breakthrough In Ukraine: NATO Commander Ukraine Aid Package Clears Key Procedural Vote In US Senate 25 Killed In Strike On Crowded Market In Russian-Occupied Donetsk Nurse Raped, Killed On Way Home, Body Found 9 Days Later In UP Rahul Gandhi's Seat At Red Fort Triggers Fresh Congress Attack On BJP "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool Left, BJP, Creating Unrest: Mamata Banerjee On Midnight Attack At Hospital 'Don't Club Us With Others,' Says Manipur's Thadou Tribe, Waits For Peace Plan More Monkey Pox Cases Likely To Hit Europe Soon, Says WHO Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.