Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has declared the ‘independence’ of the Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhia and Kherson amidst the months-long conflict with Ukraine.

“I order the recognition of the state sovereignty and independence” of the regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, Mr Putin declared.  

The United Nations condemned Mr Putin’s actions, with secretary-general Antonio Guterres saying that Russia’s annexation violated the UN Charter and had “no legal value.”

“Any decision to proceed with the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions of Ukraine would have no legal value and deserves to be condemned,” Mr Guterres told reporters at the UN headquarters on Thursday.

U.S. President Joe Biden said Thursday that Washington would never recognise Russia’s claims on Ukraine’s sovereign territory. 

“The United States, I want to be very clear about this, United States will never, never, never recognise Russia’s claims on Ukraine sovereign territory,” Mr Biden said.

Both regions are to be absorbed into Russia along with the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. 

A ceremony will occur at 3:00 p.m. local time (12:00 GMT) in the Georgievsky Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, eight years after Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine following an invasion and a similar vote.

Mr Putin will meet with the leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, as well as the leaders who Russia established in the regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia that Russian forces have occupied.

After the territories are legally absorbed into Russia, they will be subject to Moscow’s nuclear dominance. Mr Putin maintained that, if necessary, he would protect the new Russian territory with nuclear weapons.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had condemned Mr Putin’s “sham” referendums in the territories leading to their formal annexation today.