Russia does not intend to stop its invasion, on the contrary.
One of the Russian negotiators on the conflict in Ukraine explained to the Ria Novosti agency on Wednesday that the Ukrainian territories conquered militarily by Russia could organize referendums as early as July with a view to annexation.
"I don't want to predict, but I believe that the liberated territories will hold a referendum more or less at the same time, which is logical," said Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the lower house of the Russian Parliament.
He is counting “on the fact that it could take place in July”.
The Kremlin believes that the occupied territories "should be able to choose their future"
While peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have been stalled for several weeks, Russia calls the Ukrainian regions it occupies with its separatist allies “liberated territories”.
These are the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, whose independence Moscow has recognized and whose leaders aspire to join Russia.
The regions of Kherson and Zaporizhia in the south, which the Russian army has largely conquered since the end of February, are also concerned.
Administrations have thus been imposed there to, for example, introduce the Russian ruble as a currency, grant Russian nationality to the inhabitants or even install Russian communication networks.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted that the inhabitants of these four territories “must be able to choose their future”.
"We have no doubt that they will make the best decision," he said wryly.