Putin announced that Russia was annexing parts of occupied Ukraine

Credit: Al Jazeera

Credit: Yahoo

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Credit: Radio Free Europe

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Credit: The New York Times

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Credit: Al Arabiya

[{"selector":"#anim-1615afe6-8c34-4cff-bf3c-a5c0c31c12e3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(22.46093737200394%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-286b57cb-0b61-402f-8139-cce7999c471f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(124.01433%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-42174adb-e8e9-47dd-9309-9e8bdc3d4f99","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] As part of an ongoing update on the war in Ukraine, the UK Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday that Putin could make the announcement in his Friday speech to parliament.

Credit: The Guardian

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Credit: CNBC

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Credit: The Times

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Credit: Al Jazeera

Russian President Vladimir Putin may announce on Friday that his country is formally annexing parts of Ukraine that his forces have seized.

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Russia is holding a fake referendum to make occupied Ukraine part of Russia. Putin may formally annex the territories on Friday.

Credit: Radio Free Europe

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg last week condemned Russia's referendum on annexation of eastern Ukrainian regions in a vote.

Credit: The New York Times

Voting in 15% of Ukraine's regions - which includes Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia - is due to end on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

Credit: Al Arabiya

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T said the annexation follows the success of Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russian forces in recent weeks.

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Russian leaders almost certainly hope that any accession announcement will be seen as evidence of 'special military action'