Russian President Vladimir Putin today signed the law that incorporates four Ukrainian regions into Russia. This completes the illegal annexation of Moscow. “They will always belong to Russia,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Russia will regain the territories.
Earlier this week, both chambers of the Russian parliament ratified treaties that make the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions part of Russia. The formalities followed “referendums” organized by the Kremlin in the four regions, which were rejected as fraud by Ukraine and the West.
With the signing of the law, these regions are officially under the protection of Russia. However, Moscow currently only controls parts of these areas in southern and eastern Ukraine. Recently, Ukraine has repeatedly reported land gains. Initially, the regions will be administered by officials appointed by Moscow, because the “regional parliaments” will not be elected until September next year.
As can be seen from the decrees signed by Putin, former separatist leader Denis Puschilin will be appointed chief in Donetsk and local separatist leader Leonid Passechnik in Luhansk. Yevgeny Balizki, the previous governor, will be responsible for Zaporizhia. Vladimir Saldo becomes the head of the Kherson region. He was previously team leader.
Tanner sees “new level of climbing”
Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) sees a “new level of escalation” in the conflict. “We will definitely not recognize the annexed areas,” Tanner said at the APA’s request.