Russia’s moves on referendums have echoes of Putin’s actions in Crimea in 2014.

After Russia’s stunning retreat from northeastern Ukraine earlier this month, Western officials puzzled over what President Vladimir Putin, seemingly backed into a corner, might do next.

In the space of 36 hours on Monday and Tuesday, the Kremlin delivered its answer in a tightly choreographed display in Russia’s state news media: Four Ukrainian regions occupied wholly or in part by Russia would hold “referendums” on joining Russia, a move widely seen as a prelude to annexation of those territories by Russia and a potential escalation of the war. Read more

@nytimes