<p>President Vladimir Putin said Monday he would make a decision "today" on recognising the independence of east Ukraine's rebel republics, after Russia's top officials made impassioned speeches in favour of the move.</p>.<p>"I have heard your opinions. The decision will be taken today," the Russian leader said at an unscheduled Kremlin security council meeting.</p>.<p>A Russian recognition of the breakaway Donetsk and Lugansk territories would bury a fragile peace process regulating the long-running conflict in eastern Ukraine.</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/russia-facing-very-big-threat-over-ukraine-says-putin-1083791.html" target="_blank">Russia facing 'very big threat' over Ukraine, says Putin</a></strong></p>.<p>Western countries have warned Russia not to recognise the separatist republics, with the US saying it would constitute a "gross violation of international law."</p>.<p>Putin listened to Russia's top officials taking turns to make the case for recognition for an hour and a half at the meeting in the Kremlin.</p>.<p>The Russian leader sat behind a table as he called up his security, defence, intelligence and other top officials one by one to make their case.</p>.<p>The meeting, which took place in the early afternoon, was aired on state television.</p>.<p>The highly unusual conference, included Putin's scolding his own spy chief, who had mistakenly said he was for incorporating the republics into Russia.</p>.<p>"I support the proposal to incorporate the DNR and LNR into Russia," Sergei Naryshkin said.</p>.<p>"That is not what we are talking about and discussing, we are talking about recognising their independence," Putin said, before telling him to "be clear."</p>.<p>"I support the proposal to recognise their independence," Naryshkin said, nervously fixing his blunder.</p>.<p>Earlier on Monday the rebel leaders of east Ukraine's Donetsk and Lugansk made a coordinated appeal to Putin for Moscow to recognise them.</p>.<p>The Russian parliament has also asked Putin to recognise the pro-Moscow separatist territories, which declared themselves independent of Kyiv's rule after Ukraine's 2014 pro-EU revolution.</p>.<p>The looming decision over recognition of the territories comes as the Ukraine conflict escalated sharply on Monday, with Moscow claiming it had killed five Ukrainian "saboteurs" that crossed its border.</p>.<p>Ukraine said "not a single one of our soldiers has crossed the border with the Russian Federation, and not a single one has been killed today."</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH videos:</strong></p>
<p>President Vladimir Putin said Monday he would make a decision "today" on recognising the independence of east Ukraine's rebel republics, after Russia's top officials made impassioned speeches in favour of the move.</p>.<p>"I have heard your opinions. The decision will be taken today," the Russian leader said at an unscheduled Kremlin security council meeting.</p>.<p>A Russian recognition of the breakaway Donetsk and Lugansk territories would bury a fragile peace process regulating the long-running conflict in eastern Ukraine.</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/russia-facing-very-big-threat-over-ukraine-says-putin-1083791.html" target="_blank">Russia facing 'very big threat' over Ukraine, says Putin</a></strong></p>.<p>Western countries have warned Russia not to recognise the separatist republics, with the US saying it would constitute a "gross violation of international law."</p>.<p>Putin listened to Russia's top officials taking turns to make the case for recognition for an hour and a half at the meeting in the Kremlin.</p>.<p>The Russian leader sat behind a table as he called up his security, defence, intelligence and other top officials one by one to make their case.</p>.<p>The meeting, which took place in the early afternoon, was aired on state television.</p>.<p>The highly unusual conference, included Putin's scolding his own spy chief, who had mistakenly said he was for incorporating the republics into Russia.</p>.<p>"I support the proposal to incorporate the DNR and LNR into Russia," Sergei Naryshkin said.</p>.<p>"That is not what we are talking about and discussing, we are talking about recognising their independence," Putin said, before telling him to "be clear."</p>.<p>"I support the proposal to recognise their independence," Naryshkin said, nervously fixing his blunder.</p>.<p>Earlier on Monday the rebel leaders of east Ukraine's Donetsk and Lugansk made a coordinated appeal to Putin for Moscow to recognise them.</p>.<p>The Russian parliament has also asked Putin to recognise the pro-Moscow separatist territories, which declared themselves independent of Kyiv's rule after Ukraine's 2014 pro-EU revolution.</p>.<p>The looming decision over recognition of the territories comes as the Ukraine conflict escalated sharply on Monday, with Moscow claiming it had killed five Ukrainian "saboteurs" that crossed its border.</p>.<p>Ukraine said "not a single one of our soldiers has crossed the border with the Russian Federation, and not a single one has been killed today."</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH videos:</strong></p>