The annexation of four Ukrainian territories will be celebrated on Friday.
There were sham referendums in those regions.
15% of Ukrainian territory is made up of the regions.
Russia says it will sign agreements to annex parts of easternUkraine on Friday.
The signing ceremony would take place at 3 p.m., according to the spokesman. The time is Moscow time.
Agreements on the accession of new territories into the Russian Federation will be the subject of the ceremony.
It's unclear if Russia will formally consider the territories as part of Russia on Friday or if the ceremony is the beginning of the process.
The Russian president's spokesman told reporters that Putin would give a speech during the ceremony.
According to the news agency, the four regions make up 15% of the country.
The results of the referendums in those regions show that people want to join Russia, according to officials from Russia.
The results of the referendums are not recognized by the west.
The Telegraph reported that armed soldiers were going door-to-door and threatening to shoot people who didn't vote in the referendum.
The referendums last week were further in Putin's war.
The US will never recognize the annexation of Ukrainian territory by Russia, according to the Secretary of State.
"We are prepared and we will impose additional severe and swift costs on Russia for proceeding with the annexation," he said before the ceremony was announced.
Zelenskyy said that Russia could use the annexation to force Ukrainian men to join their army.
Russia used a referendum to annex the peninsula from Ukraine. Russia is still in control of the area.
The four regions are still in the hands of the Ukrainians.
Business Insider has an article on it.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
