Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Ukrainian regions of Lugansk, Donetsk, Zaporozhye and Kherson have become Russian, despite warnings from Kyiv and its Western allies.
In a speech on Friday, Putin said that the annexation of the four new regions of the Russian Federation expresses the popular will of millions, and that their citizens have become Russian citizens forever.
He added that Russia will do everything to defend its territory, and the Kyiv regime should respect what it described as the popular will.
The announcement of the Russian annexation came after what it described as referendums in the areas controlled by Moscow from Ukraine, during its offensive that has been going on for more than 7 months.