Ukrainian president signs decree refusing talks with Putin

By Ceyhun Alizade

ANKARA (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday signed a decree which states no negotiations will be held with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The latest move by Kyiv came after the Russian parliament ratified agreements on annexing Ukraine's Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Last Friday, Putin signed agreements with separatist authorities of the breakaway Ukrainian regions on joining Russia, following referendums held on Sept. 23-27.

The vote comes more than seven months into Russia's war on Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24.

The referendums have been condemned by the international community, with European nations and the US calling them a "sham" and underlining that they would not be recognized.