War: Putin Signs Decree Officially Annexing 2 Ukrainian Regions As Independent States

Putin Signs Decree Officially Annexing 2 Ukrainian Regions As Independent States 

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree which will officially recognise the two Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson as independent states following sham referendums.

Putin has always asserted that the so-called disputed territories in the east of Ukraine such as Luhansk and Donetsk should belong to Russia or be independent states.

EDITOR’S PICK

• Ukraine Crisis: Russia In Retreat As Putin Appears To Admit Defeat In Battle For Kiev

• Women, Children Queue To Return To Ukraine At Polish Train Station

• Ukraine Crisis: Abramovich, 2 Others ‘Poisoned During Peace

The signing of the decree is the last stage of the highly disputed annexation process which was undemocratic and showed blank votes being counted without being read in order to get support for Russia’s plan.

The Russian President will be holding an official signing ceremony on Friday to annex more areas and is expected to make a key speech at the Kremlin despite Russia not fully controlling any of the four regions, it has been reported.

The day will see a celebratory concert held in Moscow’s Red Square in the evening with a stage already built and billboards stating that the four regions are part of Russia.

Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “Tomorrow at 15:00 (12:00 BST) in the St George Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace a signing ceremony will be held on incorporating the new territories into Russia.”

According to the BBC, separate agreements will be signed with both of the Russian-backed separatist leaders from the east and the two Russian-appointed officials from the south.

He said: “Any decision to proceed with the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions of Ukraine would have no legal value and deserves to be condemned.

“I want to underscore that the so-called referenda were conducted during active armed conflict in areas under Russian occupation and outside Ukraine’s legal and constitutional framework.

“They cannot be called genuine expression of the popular will.”
The West has condemned Russia’s actions with further sanctions being considered by the European Union and the United States.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said: “This is the opposite of free and fair
“And this is the opposite of peace, it is a dictated peace.”

The Minister’s comments came after it was revealed that people in the Russian occupied areas of Ukraine were taken from their homes and work by threat and sometimes at gunpoint.

A woman from Enerhodar spoke to the BBC about her voting experience, saying: “You have to answer verbally, and the soldier marks the answer on the sheet and keeps it.”

Russia’s official recognition of the four regions as part of its territories has further fuelled concerns that Putin will argue that Western weapons are attacking Russian territories which could dissuade some countries from continuing to send military aid to Ukraine.

FURTHER READING:

• See Inside The Kremlin: Putin Grand Citadel With 9 Gigantic Churches, 700 Rooms

• Ukraine Crisis: Russian Soldiers Raping Many More Ukrainian Women, Says MP

• Ukraine Crisis: 7th Russian General Killed In Ukraine 

Last week the Russian President threatened to use any weapons at his disposal, including nuclear weapons to defend his nation.

Click to watch our video of the week:

---

Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:

Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.

Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.

Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611