Putin declares martial law over 4 newly joined regions

• 

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared martial law in the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, as well as the regions of Kherson and Zaporozhye.

Putin said at a Security Council meeting on Wednesday: "I signed a decree on the introduction of martial law in these four constituent entities of the Russian Federation," as Russian state news agency TASS reported. 

"It will immediately be sent for approval to the Federation Council, and the State Duma will be informed of the decision," Putin stated adding, "We are working to solve very difficult large-scale tasks to ensure Russia’s security and safe future, to protect our people.” 

According to the decree posted on the Kremlin website, martial law will be imposed starting on Thursday in the four areas.

The declaration of martial law in the Donbass, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions was adopted by the upper chamber of the Russian parliament later on in the day.

The US and NATO announced that they will not recognize the results of the referenda in the four regions: "These referenda are an affront to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that underpin the international system," stated US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, adding that "if this does transpire, the United States will never recognize Russia's claims to any purportedly annexed parts of Ukraine."

Territorial defense headquarters are being established in the four regions, per a report by the Russian news agency RIA, but Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov assured on Wednesday that this does not indicate Russia closing its borders, according to AP.

Kiev does not want to negotiate as shelling continues 

According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kiev has refused to engage in negotiations with Moscow and has continued to deploy "terrorist methods" to bombard new Russian regions.

"The Kiev regime, as you know, refused to recognize the will and choice of people, and rejects any proposals for negotiations. On the contrary, shelling continues, civilians are dying," Putin told a meeting of the Security Council, adding that Ukraine "openly uses terrorist methods." 

Putin Announces Creation of Govenment's Coordination Council 

In order to ensure the logistical support for the special operation, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the formation of a government-wide coordinating committee, which will be led by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

"We need to continue work to improve coordination. In this regard, I instruct the government to prepare a draft presidential decree on the creation of a special coordination council. It will be headed by the head of the cabinet," Putin stated.

The deputy prime ministers, representatives of law enforcement agencies, the social and economic bloc of the government, the presidential administration, and the State Council will all be included in the council, the president revealed.