McDonald’s reopens in Kyiv despite fears Vladimir Putin could raise troops levels in war on Ukraine

McDONALD’S reopened in Kyiv yesterday despite fears Vladimir Putin could raise troop levels in his war on Ukraine.

Fast food fans tucked into delivery-only burgers and fries in a fragile sign of normal life returning.

It came as Putin, under pressure at home following military setbacks, announced plans to annex southern and eastern regions under Russian control.

Puppet officials in four areas — Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson — plan votes from Friday to Tuesday asking if locals want to become part of Russia.

A similar scheme in 2014 saw the Kremlin lay claim to Crimea.

Votes had been postponed due to Ukraine’s recent fightback in the northern area of Kharkiv.

Experts warned the votes raise the risk of nuclear war — because Russian doctrine allows the use of its nukes to defend the motherland.

Putin-ally and ex-president Dmitry Medvedev said annexation was vital so Moscow could use “all possible force in self-defence”.

Ukraine foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said the sham votes would not stop his forces.

Meanwhile, Moscow’s parliament sparked fears of imminent mass mobilisation by passing a bill to toughen up punishments for military crimes like desertion.

Putin has been unable to mobilise reserves because he refused to declare war on Ukraine, insisting his invasion was a special military operation.

He could also row back on a promise, already broken, not to send conscripts to the front-line.

Ukraine’s President Volodomyr Zelensky was due to address the UN General Assembly last night.