Russian President Vladimir Putin / EPA
Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared Kherson and Zaporiza Oblasts in Ukraine as independent states.
Archyde.com reported on the 29th (local time) that Putin had signed a proclamation stating the recognition of an independent state as a preliminary procedure for annexing these regions into his territory. Russia’s state-run Sputnik news agency reported that the announcement of the decree was published on the official online portal on the 30th.
The signing was made ahead of the signing ceremony for the annexation treaty with the four Ukrainian states, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporiza and Kherson, to be held at the Kremlin on the 30th.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 of this year and occupied these areas. After the occupation, the pro-Russian local governments of the four provinces – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporiza – made up of personnel appointed by the Russian authorities after the occupation, recently passed a referendum on whether to annex Russia with an overwhelming majority of around 90%, and then President Putin requested approval of the merger.
Western countries, including Ukraine and the United States, claim that referendums have been rigged and that the forced annexation of war-occupied territories is invalid because it violates international law, including the UN Charter. The West is pushing for additional sanctions against Russia by holding them responsible for the annexation process.
Once the treaty of annexation of Russia and the Russian occupied territories in Ukraine is signed, the process of ratification of the Russian Federation’s Senate and House of Representatives and the final signature of President Putin will proceed. Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Krm Peninsula in 2014 followed the same process.