Russian President Putin signs accord to annex four occupied Ukrainian territories

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed documents to incorporate four Ukrainian territories into Russia in a televised ceremony in the Kremlin.

Russia declared the annexations of the regions - Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson - after holding what it called referendums in occupied areas of Ukraine. 

Putin annexed the regions despite Western opposition and the fact that Russian forces do not control the entirety of the regions.

However, the Russian leader said the people of the regions made an "univocal choice" to join Russia after so-called referendums that Moscow organised.

Western governments and Kyiv said the votes breached international law and were coercive and unrepresentative. 

"I want to say this to the Kyiv regime and its masters in the West: People living in the Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia (regions) are becoming our citizens forever," Putin said.

The treaties will now be submitted to Russia’s Constitutional Court, which will assess them to ensure they do not violate Russian law, according to Syrian state media SANA.

Once the treaties are cleared the agreements will also need to be ratified by the State Duma – the lower house of the Russian parliament – and then by the Federal Council, its upper house.

In addition, lawmakers will reportedly need to pass legislation on incorporating the four regions into Russia.

Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

The conflict has killed thousands of people, destroyed cities and forced millions to flee their homes.

(Reuters contributed to this report)