Will defend our land utilizing all means, says Putin as Russia annexes 4 areas of Ukraine

Russia declared the annexation of 4 areas in Ukraine after holding what it referred to as referendums. Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned it’ll take all vital measures to guard its land.

Russian President Vladimir Putin requested Ukraine to return to the negotiation desk. (Photo: AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday introduced the annexation of 4 areas in Ukraine after holding ‘referendums’ final week. Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia have been formally integrated into Russia in a Kremlin ceremony.

“We will defend our land by all means. This is the liberation mission of the Russian people,” Vladimir Putin mentioned in what seems to be the most recent thinly veiled reference to nuclear weapons.

The Russia-installed leaders of the 4 areas that pleaded to Putin for annexation this week had all gathered within the Kremlin.

“Russia will ensure the security of the Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, as well as help restore infrastructure,” Putin added.

The Kharkiv area, an early goal of Moscow’s February 24 invasion and residential to Ukraine’s largely Russian-speaking second metropolis, didn’t characteristic within the occasion, after a surprising counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces. Now, Putin has referred to as on Kyiv to ‘instantly’ stop navy motion and return to the negotiation desk.

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“Russia is ready to return to the negotiating table with Ukraine. But Moscow will not discuss the results of the referendums in the liberated territories,” Vladimir Putin mentioned within the grand ceremony, including that individuals dwelling in these areas have develop into Russian residents endlessly.

Vladimir Putin additionally launched a passionate defence of Russia’s motion and accused the West of making an attempt to colonise Russia. “The West makes every effort to preserve the neo-colonial system, which allows it to rob the world and collect tributes from humanity,” he mentioned.

Speaking about using nuclear weapons within the newly annexed areas, Putin mentioned the United States is the one nation to have used nuclear weapons twice, making a precedent.

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