“Now is the time to hear the people in Donetsk and Lugansk through an internationally controlled referendum. The main population there is Russian but has been persecuted by those in power in Kiev since a western-backed coup in 2014. It was even claimed that it is forbidden to speak Russian in schools and to teach Russian!” Carl Hagen wrote on Facebook.
“It is now clear to Norwegian media that the battle is about these two republics and not Ukraine. Putin wants to protect and take care of fellow Russians. I believe the rest of Ukraine does not matter, but a strong Russian national feeling is flourishing. Norway should propose and demand a referendum in Donetsk and Lugansk on where they want to belong to and then become either Russian or Ukrainian,” he added.
According to Limi, the Progress Party, at present in opposition, supported the government in its condemnation of Russia's recognition of the Lugansk and Donetsk as independent people's republics. He also referred to Russia's “aggressive line” and added that his party had “full confidence” in the government and NATO.