Four Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine are due to be annexed into the Russian Federation later on Friday, an event that sparking outrage in Ukraine and the West and signalling that the Kremlin wants to cement the gains it has made since February. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to sign the annexation treaties in a ceremony in St George’s Hall in the Grand Kremlin Palace at 3 pm (1200 GMT). Putin also plans to deliver a speech. The Moscow-appointed leaders of the four regions are expected to be present. Russian occupation authorities in the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzh…