Russian President Vladimir Putin signed laws on Wednesday officially recognizing the annexation of four Ukrainian regions to Russia.
The laws finalize the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, each of which held Russian-backed elections to join the eastern neighboring country. The “referendum” elections were conducted by the Russian authorities and Russian separatists.
The elections were held in violation of international law and Ukraine and the West rejected them as a farce. They were also conducted in the midst of the ongoing war effort.
Earlier this week, both chambers of the Russian parliament ratified treaties with the four regions, making the annexation legal in Russia’s eyes.
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A formal signing ceremony with separatist leaders was held last week at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia.
Putin’s decision to annex the Ukrainian regions comes as his army has suffered heavy losses in the ongoing war in Ukraine, which began when the Russians first invaded the country on February 24.
Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia lie along Ukraine’s eastern and southeastern borders with Russia, the Sea of Azov and Crimea, a Ukrainian territory annexed to Russia in 2014. The Kremlin has not specified the borders of the newly absorbed regions.
RUSSIAN LEGALS ACCEPT THE TERRITORY ANNEXED IN UKRAINE, ZELENSKYY CODES THE “IMPOSSIBILITY” OF SPEECH OF PEACE
On September 30, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin participates in a ceremony for the signing of the treaties for the formal annexation of four regions of Ukraine occupied by Russian troops: Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, in the Moscow Kremlin.
(MIKHAIL METZEL / SPUTNIK / AFP via Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the annexation by ruling out further peace talks with Russia. He also announced that his country was continuing to seek accelerated application to join NATO.
The Ukrainian army recently launched a series of successful counterattacks, reclaiming the conquered territory and pushing Russian forces in some areas back to their own national border.
The Southern Ukrainian operational command is currently recapturing the villages of Kherson, as well as the villages of Liubymivka, Khreschenivka, Zolota Balka, Biliaivka, Ukrainka, Velyka and Mala Oleksandrivka.
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Putin and the Russian security forces have promised to defend the territories recently recognized by Russia by any means necessary.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
