MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin has named retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn as National Security Advisor for the new Donetsk People’s Republic. Putin said the appointment responded to requests from “somebody, probably a lot” of Donetsk citizens and that “it does not break any international laws that matter.”

Putin described Flynn as perfect for the position based on his “extensive 22 days of experience” as U.S. National Security Advisor for former President Donald Trump. Putin said Flynn demonstrated media savvy as a commentator on Russian television and political skills by sharing national security information “without the trivial distractions” of law or being a paycheck-cashing retired Army general officer.

“Based on his comments about the Ukraine situation,” Putin said, “Gen. Flynn is one of the few Americans who understand why Russia needs to extend its borders into another sovereign nation in the name of peace.”

Flynn looks forward to assuming his position with Putin, whom he called his “big Russian huggy bear.”