Donetsk, Feb 22 - DAN. The Federation Council upper house of the Russian parliament has permitted Russian President Vladimir Putin to use the armed forces outside Russia as the situation in Donbass worsened. The Federation Council made the decision at its evening session on Tuesday.

“The Federation Council resolves to give permission to the Russian President to use the Russian armed forces outside the territory of the Russian Federation based on universal principles and norms of international law. The strength of the Russian armed forces, the areas of their operation, their missions and the length of stay outside the RF territory are determined by the President in accordance with the RF Constitution,” the resolution said.

The upper house voted at the evening session following the president’s request to permit the use of the Russian armed forces outside the state. The decision was passed unanimously.

Earlier, Putin signed the decrees on the recognition of the DPR and the LPR, as well as the friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance treaties with each Donbass Republic. The treaties have been concluded for ten years with five-year automatic prolongation if none of the parties declares its intention to terminate their operation. *jk