Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree offering passports to people in breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine, triggering calls for more sanctions against Moscow from the incoming leadership in Kiev.
"This is yet more proof of Russia's real role as an aggressor state that's waging a war against Ukraine," President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office said on Facebook after the order was posted on the Kremlin website Wednesday. Ukraine "is counting on increasing diplomatic and sanction pressure" by the international community against Russia.
The Kremlin leader's citizenship offer comes three days after Zelenskiy, a comic, won a landslide in Sunday's Ukrainian presidential election. Putin has yet to respond publicly to his victory, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday downplayed the possibility of the two leaders working together. Russia also raised pressure on Ukraine by announcing new trade sanctions days before the vote.