Russian citizens, “for all time”. This is how Vladimir Putin described, on Friday, September 30, the inhabitants of the regions from Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, and from Kherson and Zaporizhia in the south of the country. At the end in a 45-minute speech, the Russian president officially signed the annexation of these four Ukrainian territories. The referendums organized in these regions by the pro-Russian authorities resulted, according to the latter, in “yes” victories, with scores of between 87% and 99%.
>> War in Ukraine: follow the latest news on the conflict in our live
These results are recognized neither by Kyiv nor by the international community, which qualifies these votes as “parody”. During his solemn and martial speech, Vladimir Putin delivered a violent diatribe against the West. The Russian autocrat, on the other hand, remained very vague on the territorial contours of the annexation of these four regions, which Russia does not entirely occupy. This is what can be learned from his speech.
He signed the annexation of four regions
“The people of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions are our citizens, our citizens forever”claimed Vladimir Putin. “Referendums have taken place. (…) Choices have been made, which leave no doubt as to the will of millions of peoplehe also claimed.. The right to self-determination of peoples is an inalienable right.” Vladimir Putin, however, did not specify what could be the contours of these future regions, which are not entirely controlled by Russian forces..
The speech was held before an audience of officials, including the heads of Ukraine’s breakaway regions, Russian Vice President Dmitry Medvedev and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Some senior army officers, members of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov were also present.
After his speech, the Russian president and four representatives of the annexed regions signed accession agreements, according to them formalizing the belonging of these territories to Russia. The country’s national anthem then resounded in the hall of the Kremlin where the ceremony took place.
He called on kyiv to stop fighting
Immediately after the official announcement of annexation, Vladimir Putin demanded that Ukraine “cease all military actions” and “return to the negotiating table”. The results of the referendums “will not be debatable”added the head of the Kremlin. “Kyiv must consider today with respect the free choice of the people”he continued, arguing that it was “the base” of a path “toward peace”.
A pose of “peace” which already suffers from threats. Vladimir Putin also signaled that Russia was going “defend [ses] land by all means”implying that it could go as far as the use of nuclear weapons. “The people made their choice with determination. I want the West to understand that.”he then repeated.
A warning issued as EU leaders issued a statement at the same time saying they “will never recognize the illegal referendums that Russia has organized”. They also describe the annexation of these four regions as“illegal”.
He got angry with the United States
Nearly half of the Russian leader’s speech was devoted to salvos of verbal attacks, directed at the same time against the United States, Europe, and the countries of the former USSR that have rallied to the ‘West. According to Vladimir Putin, Washington would wage a battle against Russia in order to “maintain its neocolonial diktat with dollars” for “plunder the whole world” and make Russia “a colony”. “That’s where this hybrid war comes from,” Vladimir Putin got carried away.
The European Union and Ukraine’s Baltic allies have been described as “slaves” in the hands of the United States. The Russian President finally accused Westerners of being behind the explosions – described by Vladimir Putin as“acts of diversion” – which caused major leaks in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines, built to transport Russian gas to Europe.