Putin said in his order that ‘I order the recognition of the sovereignty and independence of Zaporizhia and Kherson of southern Ukraine.’ Russia is preparing to formalize the merger of Donetsk and Luhansk in addition to Zaporizhia and Kherson on Friday. Moscow may amalgamate all regions into Russia in a grand ceremony in the Kremlin on Friday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the merger of the regions would be formalized at the ceremony and Putin would deliver a keynote speech.
Promises to use nuclear weapons for defense
The Russian President has also spoken of the use of nuclear weapons to defend these Ukrainian territories. Despite these threats, Ukrainian counter-attacks have not stopped. Recently, Ukraine said that it is pushing back Russian troops in the east. The UN Security Council held a session in New York after the Russian “referendum” in four regions of Ukraine. Addressing the session, Volodymyr Zelensky said that before the eyes of the whole world, Russia is conducting an alleged referendum in the territories occupied by Ukraine.
‘Danger’ going to increase?
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that the “threat would increase” if Russia went ahead with its plans to annex four regions of Ukraine. It will also jeopardize the prospects of peace in the region. After claiming victory in the referendum, Russia is now considering the Ukrainian territories as its own. Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson together make up 15 percent of Ukrainian territory.