(VOVworld) – Russia abides by international law in sending its troops abroad. Viktor Ozerov, Chairman of the Committee on Defense and Security of the Russian Federation Council said Monday that Ukraine’s localities have no right to ask Russia to deploy its peacekeepers on Ukraine’s territory. 

Russian peacekeepers can be deployed into the territory of another state only in the framework of existing international norms, but not at the request of local authorities. If the UN Security Council agrees to deploy peacekeepers, Russia, as a permanent member of the Security Council and a member of the Agreement on Cooperation and Security in Europe, can join the peacekeeping force to ensure security in a certain region.

His statement responded to the Donetsk People's Council and supporters of Ukraine’s “federalization”, who asked President Putin to send Russian peacekeepers to Donetsk the same day they declared the sovereign state of the People's Republic of Donetsk.

Pro-Russian people wave flags in Donetsk. (Photo: Reuters)