The US government assumes that Moscow wants to annex more parts of Ukraine. The model is the action in the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in 2014, White House National Security Council communications director John Kirby said Tuesday. Intelligence indicated that Russia wanted to hold “mock referendums”. In addition, Russian bank branches will be set up in the affected regions to adopt the ruble as a currency, Kirby said (see also video above).
Internet access should also be checked. Moscow also wants to force people to apply for Russian citizenship. “The Kremlin has not announced the schedule for the referendums, but Russian officials in those areas claim they will take place later this year, possibly in conjunction with Russia’s regional elections in September,” Kirby said. The affected regions include the Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions, as well as the entire Luhansk and Donetsk regions.
Referendum in September?
The Kremlin has not yet confirmed such plans. However, the governments deployed by Russia in the occupied territories have repeatedly stated that they want to hold referendums on Russia’s accession. In the Zaporizhzhya region of southeastern Ukraine, a date was set for early September. In Kherson, southern Ukraine, Russian occupiers used the ruble as currency in May to better integrate the region into their own economic area.
The United States also announced further arms deliveries to Ukraine. “Later this week, the government will announce the next presidential weapons and equipment package for Ukraine,” Kirby said. The package will contain additional HIMARS missile launchers – the Ukrainians have already used them very effectively. In addition, additional cartridges for multiple rocket launchers and artillery ammunition would be provided.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
