Duma manoeuvre points to Kremlin impatience in Ukraine standoff

Analysis: recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk's independence would be seen as considerable escalation

Russian lawmakers have passed a direct appeal to Vladimir Putin to recognise the Russian-controlled separatist states of Donetsk and Luhansk, providing a way to up the ante in the regional crisis without launching an attack on Ukraine.

Putin has said he will not immediately recognise the so-called republics but he is likely to wield that option as a bargaining chip as he continues to demand security guarantees from the west.