Ukraine – referendums: Putin’s next steps until new annexations

Today marks the end of voting in illegal for Ukraine and the West referendums being held in four regions of Ukraine controlled by Moscow – Donbass, Lugansk, Zaporizhia and Danietsk.

“Preliminary results” are expected to be announced by Moscow-appointed “election commissions” in each region as early as this evening or in the coming days.

Their involvement in Russia may be announced as early as the end of the week: according to the British Ministry of Defence, Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to announce the accession of occupied regions of Ukraine to the Russian Federation during his speech to parliament on September 30.

Results quickly

Although Kyiv, Western countries and many observers consider these votes held in Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine “sham referendums”, Moscow intends to maintain the pretense of a legal process.

Express vote in the Duma

If he wins the “yes” vote – which there is no doubt about – the Russian parliament will vote on a treaty that will formalize the integration of these four regions into Russian territory.

Russian news agencies TASS and Ria Novosti, citing parliamentary sources, reported over the weekend that the relevant bill may be submitted to the State Duma this evening and adopted the following day during an extraordinary session. State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said on Friday he would “support” the integration of pro-Russian-controlled regions into Russia following a referendum.

The bill will then have to pass through the upper house, the Council of the Federation. It is a formal process that may have been completed by Wednesday or Thursday, according to Russian agencies.

Putin

After the parliamentary process is completed, Russian President Vladimir Putin may deliver a speech as early as September 30 to formally announce the annexation of the Ukrainian regions.

Some media outlets report that he may deliver a speech before all parliamentarians in the Kremlin, while others estimate that he may address one of the two houses of parliament.

TASS reported that members of the Federation Council have been asked to take three tests for covid-19 ahead of an “important event” on Friday, a strict health measure they must follow when they meet Putin.
However, it is possible that the Russian president will speak before Friday.

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