There was speculation in the Russian media that he would speak to Russians on Tuesday afternoon, but that did not happen and no reason was given. It comes after separatist leaders in four Russian-held regions in eastern Ukraine announced plans to hold referendums on joining Russia later this week. Mr Putin is expected to defend the move, which would pave the way for the formal annexation of territory after nearly seven months of war. The self-proclaimed Donetsk (DPR) and Luhansk People’s Republics (LPR), which Mr Putin recognized as independent states shortly before the February 24 invasion, both said they would hold referendums starting this Friday and continuing until Tuesday . Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, which have not yet been recognized as independent states by Russia, also said they would hold their own votes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the situation clearly showed his country had the initiative in the conflict, adding that “noisy news from Russia” would not change Ukraine’s position. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 0:20 “Referendums are an act of desperation by the Russians” The White House said the US would reject plans to hold referendums, while Ukraine dismissed the move as a ploy by Moscow to try to regain the initiative after crushing battlefield losses. And French President Emmanuel Macron said the referendums would not be recognized by the international community. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg tweeted: “Fake referendums have no legitimacy and do not change the nature of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. This is a further escalation in Putin’s war. The international community must condemn this blatant violation of international law and to strengthen support for Ukraine.” Moscow does not fully control any of the four regions, with only about 60% of the Donetsk region in Russian hands, but if it goes ahead with the referendums and joins all four in Russia, then Ukraine – and potentially its Western backers – will a Russian perspective, to fight Russia itself. ‘Panic’ inside Kremlin amid Ukraine counterattack – all the latest Ukraine news, live Image: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has promised that Ukraine will regain all its territory That would raise the risk of a direct military confrontation between Russia and the NATO military alliance, a scenario that US President Joe Biden has said could lead to World War III because NATO members supply weapons and provide intelligence to Ukraine . Commentators agreed the move could escalate Moscow’s conflict with the West as it comes after recent territorial gains made by Ukrainian forces pushed Russian troops far to the rear. The world has been waiting as Mr Putin has considered his next steps after the juicing. Analysis: Russia takes a new stance after being upset by Ukraine’s rapid offensive Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 2:23 What is Russia’s next military step Ukraine said the referendum threat was “naive blackmail” and a sign that Russia was running scared. “This is what the fear of defeat looks like. The enemy fears and obscures primitives,” said Mr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak. Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president who is currently vice-chairman of its Security Council, suggested that the outcome of any referendums would be irreversible. The territory currently controlled by Russia in Ukraine amounts to more than 90,000 square kilometers, or about 15% of the country’s total area – about the size of Hungary or Portugal. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. With Crimea and the territory in the other four regions, Russia would gain an area of about 120,000 square kilometers, roughly the size of the US state of Pennsylvania. England is about 130,000 square kilometers.
