Russian President Vladimir Putin officially announced the integration of 4 regions of Ukraine into Russia.
A ceremony was held to annex Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia to Russia. Russian-backed leaders of Ukrainian regions were also present at the event. Citizens of these 4 regions will be given Russian citizenship.
According to AFP, on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West that the people of the four regions controlled by Moscow have become our citizens forever.
The Russian President said that the collapse of the Soviet Union is a bitter truth for Russians, but the Soviet Union is no more. We cannot bring back the past and Russia does not need it anymore. We are not trying to make it.
President Putin said that Russia will continue to defend its territorial integrity, including the newly annexed territories.
It should be noted that referendums were held in the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia last week.
On the other hand, the European leaders in a statement declared the annexation of Ukraine’s territories to Russia as illegal. European leaders say they will never recognize the annexation of four regions of Ukraine by Russia.
