Will defend our land using all means, says Putin as Russia annexes 4 regions of Ukraine
India Today
Russia declared the annexation of four regions in Ukraine after holding what it called referendums. Russian President Vladimir Putin said it will take all necessary measures to protect its land.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday announced the annexation of four regions in Ukraine after holding 'referendums' last week. Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia have been formally incorporated 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 said in what appears to be the latest thinly veiled reference to nuclear weapons.
The Russia-installed leaders of the four regions that pleaded to Putin for annexation this week had all gathered in 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 region, an early target of Moscow's February 24 invasion and home to Ukraine's largely Russian-speaking second city, did not feature in the event, after a stunning counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces. Now, Putin has called on Kyiv to 'immediately' cease military action and return to the negotiation table.
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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 said in the grand ceremony, adding that people living in these regions have become Russian citizens forever.
