As Russia gears to hold elections next year, the nation has decided to hold presidential polls in four annexed Ukrainian regions as well. Elections will be held in annexed regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
President Vladimir Putin had confirmed last Friday that he will run for another term in office for the elections due in March 2024.
Putin visited the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk to attend the commissioning of new nuclear submarines. He announced that more such submarines are under construction. These submarines are part of Russia’s nuclear triad, which also includes land-based nuclear missiles and nuclear-armed strategic bombers, reported The Guardian.
However, Russia-Ukraine war is intensifying in the front. According to officials, Russia attacked Kyiv with eight long-ballistic missiles on Monday. Reportedly, four people suffered injuries.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky thanked United Kingdom and Norway for launching a new Maritime Capability Coalition to support Ukraine. “Together, we will strengthen the Ukrainian navy, safeguard maritime transportation routes, and secure freedom of navigation,” Zelenskiy wrote on X.
Britain on Monday had said that it would transfer two Royal Navy mine-hunter ships to the Ukrainian navy.
Zelensky’s US visit
Zelensky’s Washington visit comes at a time when US’s Ukraine aid remains uncertain after failing to secure the Senate vote.
It will be Zelensky's third visit to the US since Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The visit also comes amid, EU's foreign policy chief urged the bloc to ramp up its backing for Ukraine. “I hope that European unity will not be broken, because this isn’t the moment to weaken our support to Ukraine,” Josep Borrell said ahead of a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers.
While, Hungarian prime minister, Elina Valtonen, called Hungary's position "very, very deplorable" and was opposed to the move.
Zelensky is set to hold meeting with US President Joe Biden and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson. The Senate meeting is set to take place on Tuesday morning.
The White House said in a statement on Sunday that Mr Zelensky's visit was meant "to underscore the United States' unshakeable commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia's brutal invasion".