Vladimir Putin has recognised the independence of 2 breakaway regions in Eastern Ukraine. In 2013-14, Ukraine witnessed massive pro-western opposition protests, known as the Maidan Protest Movement. Violent protests led to the ouster of pro-Russia Ukrainian President, Viktor Yanukovych. Russian attempts to keep Ukraine in its orbit failed, Putin responded by annexing the Crimea peninsula. After the annexation of Crimea, protests against the new Ukrainian govt erupted in the Donbass region. Russia backed the anti-govt protests, the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk & Luhansk formed in 2014
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