Russian annexation escalates Ukraine war

Russia will annex four regions in Ukraine today after tightly controlled “referendums” that Kremlin officials claim resulted in 99% of locals voting to join Russia (weirdly, North Korea’s ruling party often wins their elections with similar margins).

Why it matters: The annexation is a sharp escalation of the conflict as Russia says it will defend the annexed territory by whatever means necessary (hinting at the possible use of nuclear weapons) despite not fully controlling any of the regions. 

  • The US State Department said it has greenlit the use of American-supplied weapons in the annexed regions as it still considers them sovereign Ukrainian territory.
     
  • This could set up a showdown between NATO and Russia if Vladimir Putin follows through on threats to regard Ukrainian attacks with US weapons in the region as attacks on Russian soil.

Meanwhile, the Nord Stream gas pipeline drama from earlier this week threatens to add to tensions.

  • NATO confirmed the damage was a result of sabotage and threatened a “determined response” against the perpetrators.
     
  • Russian officials said it was a “terror attack, probably conducted on a state level,” and called for an investigation.

What’s next: The war could be entering a more dangerous phase with a greater risk of spilling beyond Ukraine’s borders.