Moscow, 30 September 2022 (TDI): President of Russia, Vladimir Putin has signed the accession treaties formalizing Russia’s annexation of four occupied regions in Ukraine. This annexation marks the largest takeover of territory in Europe since World War 2.
The signing event was held after the Kremlin organized the referendums in the four Ukrainian provinces of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Donetsk. The political elites of Russia attended the event.
In his extensive address, Putin opened the ceremony by emphasizing the “inherent right sealed in Article 1 of the UN Charter, which directly states the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples.” He was also pledging to defend the newly acquired territories “with all the forces and means at our disposal.”
🇷🇺 Президент России В.В.Путин, глава ДНР Д.В.Пушилин, глава ЛНР Л.И.Пасечник, глава Запорожской области Е.В.Балицкий и глава Херсонской области В.В.Сальдо подписали договоры о принятии ДНР, ЛНР, Запорожской области и Херсонской области в состав России.
https://t.co/PzU8xfuj3j pic.twitter.com/kjGI8E7YhH— МИД России 🇷🇺 (@MID_RF) September 30, 2022
Putin’s speech after the annexation treaties
“The people have made their choice. An unequivocal choice … This is the will of millions of people,”. President of Russia Putin said, adding that the citizens of the four occupied regions will be part of Russia “forever”.
Shortly after, Putin signed the accession treaties on a podium alongside the Russian-installed heads of the four regions. After signing the treaties, the leaders gathered around Putin, linking hands and joining chants of “Russia! Russia!”.
Ukraine on the annexation of its regions
Ukraine has indicated it will fight to reclaim all of its lands. While western allies have previously said they would never recognize claims of Russia on Ukraine’s territory. On Thursday evening the UN secretary general, António Guterres, said that the annexation “has no legal value and deserves to be condemned”.
On Friday, the European Commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen, said the annexation declaration “won’t change anything”. “All territories illegally occupied by Russian invaders are Ukrainian land and will always be part of this sovereign nation,” she added.
By attempting to annex Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, Putin tries to grab territories he doesn’t even physically control on the ground. Nothing changes for Ukraine: we continue liberating our land and our people, restoring our territorial integrity.
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) September 30, 2022
The Foreign Minister of Ukraine stated, “By attempting to annex Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, Putin tries to grab territories he doesn’t even physically control on the ground. Nothing changes for Ukraine: we continue liberating our land and our people, restoring our territorial integrity.”
Also, read: Russia shares its stance on the war in Ukraine at UNSC meeting
