Annexation in Ukrainian regions likely to be declared on Friday
According to British intelligence, the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin will address parliament on Friday and could declare the annexation of four occupied Ukrainian regions. UK defense ministry tells Putin could declare annexation ‘vote’ results on Friday.
Putin is expected to address both houses of the Russian parliament on Friday and could declare the annexation of the regions, the British Defence Ministry said in a daily intelligence meeting.
Earlier, reports from various news agencies circulated that, votes in four eastern Ukrainian regions, aimed at annexing territory Russia has taken by force mostly since its invasion in February, were staged for a third day on Sunday. The Russian parliament could move to formalise the annexation within days.
The Russian annexations raise the risk of a direct military confrontation between Russia and the NATO military alliance as Western arms are being used by Ukrainian troops.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that the US would respond decisively to any Russian use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine, and that it had spelled out to Moscow the “catastrophic consequences” it would face, “If Russia crosses this line, there will be catastrophic consequences for Russia. The United States will respond decisively”.
The internationally condemned votes in the Russian-held regions end on Tuesday.
Annexation in Ukrainian regions likely to be declared on Friday
The ministry said: “Russia’s leaders almost certainly hope that any accession announcement will be seen as a vindication of the ‘special military operation’ and will consolidate patriotic support for the conflict.”
“This aspiration will likely be undermined by the increasing domestic awareness of Russia’s recent battlefield (setbacks) and significant unease about the partial mobilization announced last week.”
