Russia has signaled intent to end 'current phase' of invasion, cut losses with Kherson referendum: expert
Fox News
Russia may end its engagement if it can secure the Kherson, which would allow Moscow to establish a landbridge to Crimea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Yerevan, Armenia. (Shutterstock) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, right, welcomes U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the talks in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, April 26. (Maxim Shipenkov/Pool Photo via AP) Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a joint news conference of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow, Russia, in February. (Sputnik/Sergey Guneev/Kremlin via REUTERS) Map shows Russia's invasion of Ukraine as of Friday, March 11, 2022. (Fox News)
Peskov refused to be drawn on the possibility of a referendum, saying he "stated what I wanted to state," but former DIA officer Rebekah Koffler argued that Moscow will proceed with a referendum to provide "legal justification" for Russia to integrate Kherson.