Putin hails ‘return’ of annexed Ukrainian territories
AFP
Synopsis
“As for Novorossiya, as for the Donbas, the people living there … declared their desire to return to their native family. Their way back to their homeland turned out to be harder, more tragic, but nevertheless, we did it,” Putin told crowds on the tenth anniversary of the annexation of Crimea.
President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Ukrainian territories annexed by Russia had “returned” to their homeland as he attended a Red Square concert following his election victory.
“As for Novorossiya, as for the Donbas, the people living there … declared their desire to return to their native family. Their way back to their homeland turned out to be harder, more tragic, but nevertheless, we did it,” Putin told crowds on the tenth anniversary of the annexation of Crimea.