As Russia prepares for its upcoming presidential elections in March 2024, the nation has made the controversial decision to include four annexed Ukrainian regions in the voting process. The regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, all of which have been under Russian control since 2022, will participate in the elections, according to the Central Election Commission. President Vladimir Putin, who confirmed his candidacy for another term in office, recently visited the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, where he attended the commissioning of new nuclear submarines.

Putin announced that more submarines are currently being constructed, further strengthening Russia's nuclear triad, which includes land-based nuclear missiles and nuclear-armed strategic bombers. While these developments are taking place, tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate. Officials reported that Russia launched eight long-ballistic missiles towards Kyiv on Monday, resulting in injuries to four people. In response to Russian aggression, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his gratitude to the United Kingdom and Norway for their joint efforts in launching a new Maritime Capability Coalition to support Ukraine.

The coalition aims to strengthen the Ukrainian navy, ensure the safety of maritime transportation routes, and secure freedom of navigation. Zelensky's visit to the United States holds significant importance amidst the uncertain future of US aid to Ukraine, following the failure to secure Senate approval. This marks Zelensky's third visit to the US since Russia's invasion in February 2022. It also coincides with the European Union's call for increased support to Ukraine. EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, urged the bloc to maintain unity in their support for Ukraine during a meeting of foreign ministers.

However, Hungarian Prime Minister Elina Valtonen expressed opposition to these efforts, deeming Hungary's position on the matter as "deplorable." Zelensky is scheduled to meet with US President Joe Biden and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson during his visit. The White House emphasized that Zelensky's visit reaffirms the United States' unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine against the brutal invasion by Russia. In a separate development, the Central Election Commission announced that the Russian presidential elections will also take place in occupied Ukrainian regions, including Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.

This decision has drawn condemnation from Ukraine, which urged the international community to condemn Russia's actions and impose sanctions on those responsible. Past elections held in these occupied regions were deemed null and void by Ukraine and the West, with Moscow unilaterally annexing Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and holding subsequent elections there. Despite the controversy surrounding the inclusion of annexed Ukrainian regions in the Russian presidential elections, Putin is expected to face minimal competition in his bid for a fifth term, as most of Russia's opposition leaders are either imprisoned or in exile. Five parties have been permitted to nominate candidates for the 2024 elections without collecting signatures, all of whom support the Kremlin and Russia's military offensive in Ukraine.