Russia’s parliament on Tuesday, February 22 voted to ratify President Vladimir Putin’s agreements with east Ukraine’s breakaway regions, a day after the Russian leader recognized their independence, AFP reports.

Under the agreements, Russia will be able to send troops, set up military bases and jointly defend the territories of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR).

The lower house of the Russian parliament, the Duma, voted unanimously to approve the deals.

The voting ended in standing applause from MPs.

“This is the only way to protect people, stop the fratricidal war, prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, and bring peace,” the Duma’s chairman, Vyacheslav Volodin, said in comments published on the parliament’s website.

The Federation Council, Russia’s upper house of parliament, then also ratified the deals with all senators voting in favor.

“This was a long-awaited decision,” Federation Council head Valentina Matviyenko said after the vote.

“Today’s ratification of these agreements opens a new life, new possibilities for the residents of Donetsk and Lugansk,” she said.

Putin recognized the Donetsk and Lugansk republics on Monday, despite repeated Western warnings that this would result in sanctions.