Reuters
September 30, 2022
russian president vladimir putin and denis pushilin leonid pasechnik vladimir saldo yevgeny balitsky who are the russian installed leaders in ukraine s donetsk luhansk kherson and zaporizhzhia regions attend a ceremony to declare the annexation of the russian controlled territories of ukraine in the georgievsky hall of the great kremlin palace in moscow russia september 30 2022 photo reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Denis Pushilin, Leonid Pasechnik, Vladimir Saldo, Yevgeny Balitsky, who are the Russian-installed leaders in Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, attend a ceremony to declare the annexation of the Russian-controlled territories of Ukraine in the Georgievsky Hall of the Great Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, September 30, 2022. PHOTO:
REUTERS
A defiant Vladimir Putin proclaimed Russia's annexation of a swathe of Ukraine in a pomp-filled Kremlin ceremony, promising Moscow would triumph in its "special military operation" against Kyiv even as some of his troops faced potential defeat.
The Russian president's proclamation of Russian rule over 15% of Ukraine - the biggest annexation in Europe since World War Two - was roundly rejected by Western countries, with the United States and Britain announcing new sanctions.
It comes as Russian forces in one of the four regions being annexed face being encircled by Ukrainian troops.
In one of his toughest anti-American speeches in more than two decades in power, Putin signalled he was ready to continue what he called a battle for a "greater historical Russia," slammed the West as neo-colonial and as out to destroy his country, and without evidence accused Washington and its allies of blowing up the Nord Stream gas pipelines. The four Ukrainian regions he said would be absorbed by Russia made a historic decision, he said.
"They chose to live with their country, live with their destiny, and win together. The truth is on our side. Russia is on our side!" Putin watches him sign the annexation document said this to his country's political elite, who had gathered in one of the Kremlin's most magnificent halls.
"People living in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia will be our brothers forever."
"We will do everything in our power to protect our country," he added, adding, "I urged the Kyiv regime to immediately cease hostilities and return to the negotiating table." Putin said the United States set a precedent by dropping two nuclear bombs on Japan in 1945, but did not go so far as to issue them.