By: Eric Wang

Eight months into Europe’s biggest land war since World War II, Putin annexed Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. In response, Zelensky hopes for an “accelerated” entry into NATO.

Donetsk and Luhansk have been separatist regions since 2014, backed by the Kremlin. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia were captured in the early months of the invasion.

Russian officials conducted “referendums” in the occupied regions, just as they did in the 2014 invasion of the Crimean Peninsula. The Kremlin declared those regions part of Russia, but the West views this claim with scorn.

The European Union said its 27 nations would never recognize the referendums Russia organized “as a pretext for this further violation of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”

After Putin’s signing ceremony, Zelensky held his own signing ceremony for a formal NATO membership request. Ironically, Putin’s invasion was meant to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO.

Putin warned that Ukraine joining NATO would cross his line, citing this as one of the reasons for his invasion. Putin insisted Ukraine treat the “referendum” results “with respect,” and vowed to protect the annexed regions of Ukraine with “all available means,” something that could include nuclear weapons.

President Joe Biden says, “America and its allies are not going to be intimidated by Putin and his reckless words and threats… [Putin] can’t seize his neighbor’s territory and get away with it.”

Ukraine has made staggering advances in reclaiming territory and has retaken Lyman. This creates a way for Ukrainian forces to strike deep into the Luhansk province, and further.

Former Kremlin speechwriter Abbas Gallyamov says, “It looks quite pathetic. Ukrainians are doing something, taking steps in the real material world, while the Kremlin is building some kind of virtual reality, incapable of responding in the real world.”