(Moscow) Russian President Vladimir Putin has recognized the independence of the Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhia and Kherson, according to presidential decrees issued Thursday evening, on the eve of the finalization of their annexation by Russia.
Posted at 7:21 p.m.
Updated at 9:23 p.m.
“I order to recognize state sovereignty and independence” of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, located in southern Ukraine, said in these decrees Mr. Putin, who is preparing to formalize Friday the annexation of these two regions, as well as those of Donetsk and Luhansk (east).
Russia recognized the independence of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) and the Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR), at the request of their pro-Russian separatist leaders, in late February, shortly before the start of its offensive in Ukraine.
In September, the regions of Zaporijjia, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk organized “referendums”, denounced by Kyiv and Westerners as illegitimate, by voting for their attachment to Russia.
A ceremony for the formalization of this annexation will take place on Friday afternoon in the Kremlin.
The UN Security Council will vote for its part on Friday on a resolution condemning the “referendums” for the annexation of several Ukrainian regions, the French presidency of the Council indicated on Thursday evening.
The resolution prepared by the United States and Albania, the precise content of which is not yet public, has no chance of being adopted due to Russia’s right of veto, but it should then be presented to the UN General Assembly.