In this handout photo released by Russian State Duma, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin speaks to the media after a plenary meeting of the Russian State Duma, in Moscow, Russia. The State Duma has unanimously ratified the treaties on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance with the Donetsk and the Lugansk Peoples Republics (DPR and LPR) submitted by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The President recognized the sovereignty of the republics on February 21. Editorial use only, no archive, no commercial use.