Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday called on Ukraine to immediately end the war and return to the negotiating table, but warned that the option to join Russia made by the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics and the regions of Kherson and Zaporizhia is "definitive".
"We call on the kyiv regime to immediately cease fireput an end to military actions, to the war that unleashed in 2014 and return to the negotiating table"Putin said in a speech ahead of the signing of annexation treaties with four Ukrainian regions in the St. George hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace.
At the same time, he stressed that Russia is prepared to negotiate, but stressed that will not debate in the negotiations the decision taken by the people of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics and the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions.
"we will not betray"stressed the president, who emphasized that Russia will defend those territories with "all the means available"
"We will do everything to ensure a safe life for our people. In this lies the great liberating mission of our people", he added.
Putin emphasized that the current kyiv authorities "must respect this free expression of the popular will"alluding to the results of the referendums on joining Russia in those four territories, condemned by Ukraine and practically the entire international community.
"That’s the only way to peace" sentenced.