Kremlin to Sign Documents on Annexation of Four Regions of Ukraine Tomorrow

The Kremlin will sign agreements on the “annexation of new territories to Russia” on Friday, September 30. This was announced by Russian President’s Spokesman Dmitry Peskov. This refers to the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, which Russia intends to annex as a result of the vote held in the Russian-occupied territories. Ukraine and Western countries call it a pseudo-referendum and say they will never recognize the annexation. State Duma deputies are invited to an event with Russian President Vladimir Putin at 3 p.m. on September 30 in the Kremlin. This is reported by RIA Novosti, citing PСRF deputy Denis Parfyonov. According to Peskov, Putin will address the deputies before signing the annexation documents. Agreements will be signed with the leaders of the separatist “DPR” and “LPR”, as well as the heads of the Russian occupation administrations in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. In the same scheme – after Putin’s speech to deputies and members of the Federation Council – the documents on the annexation of Crimea were signed on March 18, 2014. Much of the territory of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia and a small part of Kherson are now under Ukrainian control. Earlier, it was reported that streets around the Kremlin would be closed on September 30, and a stage had already been set up on Red Square for a rally with the inscription “Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye are Russia”. Ukraine and Western countries, as well as a number of other countries of the world, declared their non-recognition of the pseudo-referenda on joining Russia, which took place in 4 regions. The U.S. and its allies have announced or are preparing to announce new sanctions against Russia over the attempted annexation. On September 30, even if Putin announces the annexation, the process is not yet formally over. It must be approved by the Constitutional Court, the Duma and the Federation Council. The latter is scheduled to meet on October 4. Голос Америки