Western leaders accused Russia of “mostly nuclear sabers” and violating international law tonight after President Putin confirmed the annexation of 15 percent of Ukraine’s territory.
In a Kremlin ceremony, Putin announced that Russia will annex four regions of Ukraine in a dramatic escalation of the war that will increase the chances of a direct clash with the West.
In perhaps the most hostile speech of his two decades in power, Putin criticized what he called neo-colonialism and the moral bankruptcy of the West while confirming that Russia would absorb the Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions, and the self-styled Donetsk People’s Republics and Luhansk. . It is the largest military annexation since World War II.
Putin declares the annexation of the Kremlin
The Kremlin has pledged to protect the new territory with nuclear weapons if necessary.