After Russia formally annexed four Moscow-held regions of Ukraine on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kyiv is requesting fast-track NATO membership, according to the news agency AFP. In a video posted by Ukrainian Presidency on social media, Zelensky said that Ukraine will not hold any negotiations with Russia as long as Putin is the president of the Russian Federation. “We will negotiate with the new president," said Zelensky, adding that the country have taken a decisive step by signing Ukraine's application for accelerated accession to NATO. The United States on Friday announced 'severe' new sanctions on Russia in response to the annexation that President Joe Biden called ‘fraudulent’ claim. "The United States is imposing swift and severe costs on Russia," the White House said in a statement.

Source: Mint October 01, 2022 19:47 UTC