The Federation Council ratified the treaties on the accession of Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), Zaporozhye and Kherson to Russia, during a plenary session on Tuesday

The agreements allowed the formation of four new entities within Russian borders, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov presenting the ratification documents to the council.

"The decisions to admit the Donetsk and Lugansk republics and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions to the Russian Federation were based on the will of their peoples during referendums on 23-27 September," he claimed.

Lavrov also declared that the move was "fully in line with the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, which is enshrined in the UN Charter".

On September 30, President Vladimir Putin agreed to sign documents allowing the accession of the areas.

According to Moscow, it followed referenda in which people living in those areas exercised their right to self-determination and requested to join Russia.

Ukraine and its international allies condemned the move, calling it annexation of Kiev’s sovereign territory.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy released his own decree on Tuesday, stating that the "territory of Ukraine is integral and inviolable within its internationally recognised state border, and the sovereignty of Ukraine extends to its entire territory".

His own document claimed that those signed by Putin on the accession are 'null and void'.

Moscow launched the military offensive in Ukraine earlier this year, after recognising the independence of the LPR and DPR.

Kiev condemned the action, while Zelensky ordered martial law and full mobilisation in February.