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On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees paving the way for the formal annexation of the occupied Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia to Russia.
BLUMENTHAL, GRAHAM CALL FOR ECONOMIC AND MILITARY CUTS TO THE NATIONS WHICH ACKNOWLEDGE THE ANNEXING UKRAINE TO RUSSIA
The decrees, made public by the Kremlin, stated that Putin had recognized the two regions as independent territories. This is a necessary interim step before Putin can push ahead with plans to announce on Friday that the regions are part of Russia.