Vladimir Putin announces the annexation of four Ukrainian regions: "It is the wish of millions of citizens"

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Russian President

signed this Friday the annexation of four Ukrainian regions occupied by his troops:

"It is the right of millions of citizens. People have made their choice and it is a final choice," the Russian president said at a ceremony in the Kremlin.

"Today we signed an agreement on integration. We are going to defend our land," Putin said, shortly before asking for a minute of silence for those killed in the so-called special military operation: "They are our heroes," he said.

After some incorporation referendums branded as "farce" by the international community as a whole, the 'theft' of territories has become official in an act presided over by Putin in the presence of the most prominent Russian leaders, among whom was the Minister of Foreign Minister

as well as the leaders of the occupied regions.

The formalization of the annexation thus opens the door for Russia to use nuclear weapons to defend what is now its territory.

The Kremlin wanted to transform this announcement into a great celebration.

In Moscow there were important traffic restrictions this Friday, and everything was ready to host a massive concert that will take place after Putin's speech.

Signs with the names of the "four new regions" had been placed on Red Square

What happened is inevitably reminiscent of the process of annexation of

a peninsula in southern Ukraine that Russia annexed in 2014 and has not been recognized by the international community.

The incorporation of these territories accelerated after the successful counteroffensive launched by the Ukrainian troops, which also led Putin to mobilize hundreds of thousands of reservists.

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