The talks, which exposed pressure from the pro-Russian army, will end on Tuesday
The United Kingdom’s intelligence services believe there is “a realistic possibility” that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin announces Friday the formal annexation of areas in eastern Ukraine where referendums will be held during these days.
Putin plans to address both houses of parliament that day, so London hopes he will take the opportunity to formalize an announcement which, as the Kremlin has already advanced, would be swift once the results of the consultations that will be closed this Tuesday are known .
British military intelligence predicts the annexation will serve to justify Putin’s military offensive and try to “consolidate patriotic support” for the cause, following the latest battlefield defeats and apparent social unrest stemming from the call from reservists.
The Ukrainian authorities and western governments are not granting validity to the referendums launched on September 23 in the Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhya areas (representing about 15% of the Ukrainian territory) under the control of the Russian armed forces. Blocs like the European Union have even threatened to impose more sanctions if Moscow continues with its expansionist plans.
Source: La Verdad
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