Leaders of four Russian-controlled separatist regions in Ukraine arrived in Moscow on Thursday to finalize the unification of the territories after elections described as a “simulacra” by Kiev and the West.
By AFP
LThe Russian president announced on Thursday that Russia would approve the annexation of parts of Ukraine it controls at a ceremony in the Kremlin on Friday, where Vladimir Putin will deliver a speech.
“The signing ceremony of the agreements on the entry of new territories into the Russian Federation will take place tomorrow at 3:00 pm (12:00 GMT) in the Kremlin,” Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “Vladimir Putin will make a big speech at the event,” he added.
“President Vladimir Putin will make a big speech at the event,” he added.
The announcement comes after annexation “referendums” were organized in four regions of Ukraine: Donetsk and Luhansk in the east, Kherson and Zaporizhia in the south.
“Simulations”
The polls have been described as “simulacra” by Kyiv and Western countries, which have already said they will not recognize the annexation of the territories.
Russia has already annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea (South), which is not recognized by the international community, in 2014.
The announced annexation of Ukrainian territories marks an intensification of Russia’s offensive in Ukraine.
Many Russian officials and commentators have actually said that if these territories were annexed by Moscow and considered part of its territory, Russia could “protect” them using nuclear weapons.
Mr Putin said last week that Russia was ready to use “all means” in its arsenal to “protect” its region. “It’s not nonsense,” he said.
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