"Russia's Territory" Putin Pushes Annexation Today... Biden Says "Will Never Recognize"

On the 29th (local time), the event venue set up near St. Basil's Cathedral and Spasskaya Tower located in Red Square, Moscow, Russia, for the signing of the merger treaty. (Photo by AFP)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to forcibly proceed with the annexation of occupied territories in Ukraine, which were decided through referendums, on the 30th (local time). After the signing of the annexation treaty and approval by the Russian parliament, the treaty is expected to come into full effect in early next month. The international community has strongly condemned the referendums and forced annexation as 'fake' acts that violate international law.

Major foreign media outlets, including the British BBC, reported that President Putin will personally attend the signing ceremony of the annexation treaty for four Ukrainian territories (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson). Ahead of the ceremony, Putin signed a decree the day before to annex Zaporizhzhia and Kherson provinces. Donetsk and Luhansk provinces have already been recognized as independent states.

The Washington Post (WP) reported that the state-run TV channel Rossiya 24 began a countdown showing the minutes and seconds remaining until the signing ceremony at 3 p.m. on the same day. The treaty signing ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. on the 30th in the Kremlin’s St. George Hall, followed by a celebratory performance in Moscow’s Red Square in the evening.

Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, stated at a briefing that "the treaty signing ceremony to annex the new territories to Russia will be held at the Kremlin with President Putin in attendance," adding that "the president is also scheduled to deliver a speech." After the speech, President Putin is expected to meet with the heads of the Ukrainian annexed regional administrations appointed by Russia.

On June 4, three days before Putin’s 70th birthday, he is also expected to deliver a speech at the upper house of parliament. The Russian parliament appears to have initiated a procedure on June 3-4 to ask the Constitutional Court whether the annexation complies with the constitution.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Photo by Reuters) [Image source=Yonhap News]

As was the case with the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, after the treaty signing, the Russian upper and lower houses of parliament will officially ratify the annexation treaty, followed by the president’s final signature, making it effective. All procedures are expected to be completed in early next month.

Previously, when the Crimean Peninsula, a popular Russian resort area, was annexed, President Putin’s approval rating soared to a record high of 89% in 2015, but due to the deteriorating military situation and Putin’s issuance of a military mobilization order, public opinion on the annexation of the four Ukrainian regions is reported by WP to be unfavorable.

The international community has strongly condemned Russia’s announcement of territorial annexation, and the remaining annexation process is expected to face difficulties. U.S. President Joe Biden stated at a summit with South Pacific island nations held at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C., that "the United States will never, ever, ever recognize Russia’s claims over Ukrainian territory."

President Biden emphasized the word 'never' three times, calling the referendums "completely fake and manipulated by Moscow." He further criticized, "Russia’s attack on Ukraine to pursue Putin’s imperial ambitions is a complete violation of the UN Charter and the fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity."

The U.S. State Department announced at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee the day before that a new sanctions package targeting comprehensive sectors including finance, technology, human rights, energy, military, and technology will be introduced. UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres condemned the annexation of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, stating, "Russia’s annexation deserves condemnation," and warned that "the world is at a moment of danger." The European Union (EU) also announced additional sanctions against Russia, including a price cap on Russian crude oil and import restrictions worth approximately 7 billion euros.