Russian President Vladimir Putin has recognised the independence of two Ukraine regions, the presidential decrees revealed which were issued late Thursday on the eve of Russia finalising their annexation.
As per the decree, Putin recognised the independence of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.
Putin said in the decrees that “I order the recognition of the state sovereignty and independence” of the regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, located in southern Ukraine.
Russia prepares to formalise the annexation of the two regions, along with Donetsk and Lugansk on Friday. Moscow will annex all the regions at a grand ceremony in the Kremlin on Friday.
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the annexation of the areas would be formalised at the ceremony and that Putin would deliver a major speech.
The Russian president also has threatened to use nuclear weapons to defend the territories. The threats have not stopped a sweeping Ukrainian counter-offensive.
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In the past few days, Ukraine said it has been pushing back Russian troops in the east and is on the doorstep of the Donetsk region town of Lyman, which Moscow’s forces pummelled for weeks before capturing it this summer.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary-General said on Thursday that if Russia moves ahead with its plans to annex four Ukrainian regions, it would mark a “dangerous escalation”.
It would also jeopardise the prospects for peace in the region.
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