Leaders of both regions send formal requests to join Russia, following public votes
The head of the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) and his counterpart from the Kherson region have officially asked President Vladimir Putin to be accepted into the Russian Federation. The move follows referendums on joining Russia, where the overwhelming majority voted in favour.
In a video address released on Wednesday, LPR chief Leonid Pasechnik said the people of the republic had received no support from any country other than Russia and had been continuously bombarded by Kyiv forces during of the past eight years.
Vladimir Saldo, head of Ukraine’s Kherson region, which is now mostly controlled by Russian forces, wrote a similar speech to Putin on Wednesday. In his letter, he also asked for his territory to be accepted in Russia, stating that the people of Kherson expressed their desire to « reunite » with the country, which has « has always lived in their hearts. »
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Four regions vote to join Russia: what’s next?
The People’s Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk (LPR and DPR), as well as the Kherson region and part of the Zaporozhye region in southern Ukraine, voted to join Russia in referenda held from September 23 to 27.
Although the process of officially integrating these new provinces into the Russian Federation may take some time, as it requires the approval of parliament and the president, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he was optimistic as to what will happen. « quite fast. »
Meanwhile, the EU and the US have called the referendums a « fake » and have sworn to « never recognize » regions within the framework of the Russian Federation.
