Russia is laying the groundwork to annex Ukrainian territory, White House says

Britain’s Ministry of Defense has said that Russian forces, having seized the Luhansk province in the Donbas after weeks of intense shelling, are likely to employ the same tactics to seize Donetsk

According to the White House, it has information that Russia is moving to annex parts of Ukraine.

John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, told reporters at the White House that Russia intends to annex additional Ukrainian territory.

Kirby said that the U.S. observed a similar Russian pattern before the annexation of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimean.

The areas of Ukraine that are under Russia's control are being installed with illegitimate proxy officials. Kirby said they knew their next move.

It's plain to the American people. He said nobody is fooled by it.

Moscow wants to make the ruble a default currency in the areas it wants to annex by establishing branches of Russian banks, according to a former Pentagon spokesman. Russian forces are controlling broadcasting towers in order to control communications, according to Kirby.

Moscow is forcing Ukrainians to apply for Russian citizenship and issue Russian passports, according to the U.S.

As Ukraine's first lady is visiting the White House, there is near-constant Russian shelling in cities and towns.

The Biden administration is working on a new military aid package. The fighting in easternUkraine will be the focus of the 16th U.S. package.

Since the beginning of the war in February, the US has provided about $8 billion in security assistance.