Until this announcement was made, it was not clear whether Russia would annex the new territories outright, or if it would leave them as an independent, contested region like Abkhazia, South Ossetia, or Transnistria. 
Mpaka wakati tangazo hilo linatolewa, haikuwa wazi ikiwa Urusi itarekebisha mipaka ya nchi hiyo mara moja, au itawaacha wanachama ao wapya kuwa huru kama zilivyo Abkhazia, South Ossetia, au Transnistria.