In challenge to West, Russia rolls out plan to annex swathes of Ukraine 'in next few days'

Moscow-Backed Officials Across 15% The Size Of Hungary Of Ukraine Announce 'loin Russia' Referendums

Russian-installed leaders in occupied areas of four Ukrainian regions set out plans for referendums on joining Russia, a move Ukraine and its allies dismissed on Monday as a stunt by Moscow to try to reclaim the initiative after battlefield losses.

"The Russians can do whatever they want. It will not change anything," Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said in response to reporters' questions at the start of a meeting with US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

"Ukraine has every right to liberate its territories and will keep liberating them whatever Russia has to say," he tweeted.

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington rejected any such referendums "unequivocally". French President Macron and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda used the word "parody" to describe the planned votes.