蜜芽传媒

Vladimir Putin has signed an accord to annex occupied regions of Ukraine, after declaring that Russia would never give them up and would defend them with all means available.

But what does this mean on the ground in Ukraine and looking outwards to NATO and the west?

The 蜜芽传媒's Sarah Rainsford, a correspondent in Moscow until she was expelled by the authorities last year, gives her analysis:

"I don't think it immediately changes anything on the ground... certainly Ukraine's made it clear that it would carry on with its offensive... it intends to liberate the lands occupied by Russian forces."

(Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) with Russian appointed heads of occupied Ukrainian regions. Credit: Mikhail Metzel via Shutterstock)