Putin may announce the annexation of the occupied territories to the Russian Federation: UK

 Europe

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to deliver a speech in two chambers of the Russian Parliament next Friday.In that speech, he can officially announce the inclusion of the territories occupied by Ukraine into the Russian Federation.  The British Ministry of Defense gave such a glimpse on Tuesday.  Reuters news.

Seven months into the Russia-Ukraine war, Russia has organized referendums in four of its occupied territories in Ukraine.The regions are Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine and Kherson and Zaporizhzhya in southern Ukraine.  The aim is to join all those regions to the Russian Federation.Voting started last Friday.  And today Tuesday is the last day of referendum.

The British Ministry of Defense's regular briefing on Twitter on Tuesday said that Russian leaders "pretty much expect"Any declaration of inclusion would justify special military operations and thereby provide strong support for the conflict.

Before this, the annexation of Ukraine's territory to Russia has taken place through a referendum.  That was in 2014.That year, Russia first occupied the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine on the orders of Putin.  Later a referendum was organized there.

The international community strongly condemned Russia's move.  This time again, Ukraine and the country's Western allies called this vote "illegal and sham".If the current referendum goes in favor of Russia, another 15 percent of Ukraine will join this federation.