Russia-Ukraine updates: Putin recognises independence of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday recognized the independence of the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, hours before holding a ceremony to incorporate them into the Russian Federation.

He also signed a similar decree earlier in February, when he recognized two breakaway regions in the east of Ukraine, Luhansk and Donetsk, as independent states.

Putin to hold ceremony for incorporating four Ukrainian regions into Russia

The four Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine (Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia) that held so-called "referendums" on joining Russia will be incorporated into the country on Friday, the Kremlin said. Crimea was similarly illegally annexed in 2014, after a similar "referendum."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend a ceremony in the Kremlin at which they will be officially folded into Russia.

Peskov told reporters that the heads of the four regions will sign treaties to join Russia during Friday's ceremony at the Kremlin's St. George's Hall.

Putin will also give a major speech following the signing ceremony in the Kremlin and will meet with Moscow-appointed administrators of the regions.

Ukraine and the West have denounced the votes as a sham and said they will never recognize the Ukrainian regions as being part of Russia.

US lawmakers unite against 'Hurricane Putin'

US lawmakers urged support for Ukraine on Thursday, as the US House of Representatives is set to pass a bill Friday to provide Ukraine with $12.3 billion (approx €12.5 billion) in military and economic assistance.

Lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle have urged support, with Democratic Senator Bob Menedez saying it was important to "continue to support" Ukrainians, and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham saying they were "dealing with Hurricane Putin."

Graham said so after expressing best wishes for those affected by Hurricane Ian.

US slams Russia's 'absolute sham' referenda

US President Joe Biden pledged to "never, never, never" recognize the results of Russia's referenda in Ukraine.

"The so-called referenda was a sham, an absolute sham. The results were manufactured in Moscow," he said as he met Pacific Island leaders in Washington.

"Russia's assault on Ukraine in pursuit of Putin's imperial ambitions is a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and the basic principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity," Biden added.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also accused Moscow of making a "land grab" with the referenda.

"The Kremlin's sham referenda are a futile effort to mask what amounts to a further attempt at a land grab in Ukraine," the top US diplomat said in a statement.

Putin says drafting 'mistakes must be corrected'

A week after he announced partial mobilization, the Russian president has criticized mistakes in the drafting of reservists to fight in Ukraine.

There have been complaints by reservists that they had been drafted despite chronic illnesses, old age or other exemption criteria.

"All mistakes must be corrected," Putin told a meeting of the National Security Council on Thursday, saying those who were mistakenly drafted must return home.

Ukraine calls emergency meeting of security, defense chiefs

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will hold an emergency meeting with top security, political and defense officials on Friday, following the Kremlin's announcement of plans by Russia to annex four Ukrainian regions.

The National Security and Defense Council includes, among others, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the defense, foreign and prime ministers, and the head of the Ukrainian Security Service. It is tasked with working with the president on developing and coordinating national security policy.

Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the council, said "important and I believe fundamental decisions for our country" would be taken at the meeting, but did not give further details.

Zelenskyy has said repeatedly that the so-called "referendums" were illegal and warned of a robust Ukrainian response.