Putin signs decrees paving way for annexing Ukraine territories of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia

Kremlin says decrees recognise two regions as independent, ahead of Friday's expected speech on annexation of four regions of Ukraine

Vladimir Putin has signed decrees paving the way for the occupied Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia to be formally annexed into Russia.

On Friday, the Russian president is expected to sign into law the annexations of four Ukrainian regions - Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk - where Russia held fake referendums over the last week in order to claim a mandate for the territorial claims.