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Russian President, Vladimir Putin proclaimed an annexation of four Ukraine cities and has also vowed to protect them as properties of Russia.
This annexation has been considered the biggest in the world’s history after the end of World War 11 in 1945.
Putin’s attitude towards the annexation is seen as a defiance of international law and in spite of his forces facing another significant battlefield setback.
The cities Putin plans to annex are Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.
Recall that Kremlin initially belonged to Ukraine and was annexed by Russia in 2014.
According to a report emanating from Russia, it’s making correction of history “Russia is talking about this as a correction of history – saying that those regions and Russia have been wronged,” he added.
At a grand ceremony in the Kremlin, the Russian leader vowed to use “all available means” to defend the four regions he was coopting, repeating a renewed nuclear threat that has escalated the seven-month war alongside his call-up of military reservists.
“This is the will of millions of people,” Putin said Friday, words that few outside Russia see as credible for a move condemned in the West as a land-grab in brazen violation of international law.
His speech was followed by the pro-Russia leaders of the four areas of southern and eastern Ukraine signing documents proclaiming them part of Russia, before joining hands with Putin and singing the national anthem.
The United States, Ukraine and others have promised to retaliate with sanctions while Kyiv has vowed to keep fighting to retake its occupied land. The annexation was also overshadowed by a deadly attack on a civilian convoy in the country’s south.
UN chief Antonio Guterres also called it a dangerous escalation and a violation of the United Nations charter.
It comes as Ukrainian forces partially surround a strategic city in eastern Ukraine.
Meanwhile, a Russian rocket attack killed at least 25 in Zaporizhzhia, while another 50 were wounded.