>
Vladimir Putin yesterday claimed that four occupied Ukrainian regions would remain part of Russia “forever” in a bizarre 40-minute diatribe of tirades about “Satanism” and colonialism.
The incoherent speech was part of a ceremony in Moscow that formally confirmed his land grab after a series of rigged referendums.
The despot walked late to the podium in front of hundreds of gray-faced officials and lashed out at the West’s “neo-colonial” foreign policy. “I want the Kiev authorities and their real masters in the West to hear me so that they remember this,” Putin said.
“The people who live in Luhansk and Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia will now become our citizens forever.”
He claimed that the occupied regions wanted to join Russia because they were appalled at the “tragedy” of the collapse of the Soviet Union. “We call on the Kiev regime to immediately end hostilities, end the war they unleashed in 2014 and return to the negotiating table,” he added.
But the 69-year-old Russian president ruled out a discussion about the return of the four eastern regions. “There is nothing stronger than their willingness to return to their true historic homeland,” he said in yet another denial of Ukraine’s right to exist.
Putin sings ‘Russia’ with the puppets ‘leaders’ of the four Ukrainian regions he now claims are part of his country
Thousands of Russians gather in Moscow’s Red Square for a concert to celebrate the annexation of parts of Ukraine
Putin, who appeared to be wearing makeup, said “millions of people” had expressed their “love for Russia.” As he uttered those words, the official televised broadcast turned to a shot of Chechen leader and ally Ramzan Kadyrov rolling his eyes and staring at the ceiling of the Kremlin’s ornate St George’s Hall.
The 45-year-old, who once fought against Moscow for Chechnya’s independence, was critical of Russia’s setbacks on the battlefield.
While Putin was on the podium, his forces were once again in trouble just 460 miles from the Russian capital. Both Ukrainian military officials and pro-Moscow rebels confirmed that Kiev was about to retake the eastern stronghold city of Lyman, in the Donbas.
Putin made no mention of those blunders at a site where marble slabs and statues celebrate the military conquests of the Russian Empire of centuries past.
Although he was noticeably quieter about nuclear threats, he still claimed that the US had set a “precedent” for their use at the end of World War II – meaning he could also decide they were needed.
Putin’s unhinged speech was instead laced with bizarre references ranging from gender reassignment to the British Opium Wars in China in the 19th century.
The four Ukrainian regions Putin wants to steal are Luhansk and Donetsk in the east, and Zaporizhia and Kherson in the south, but his forces are not in full control and fighting continues in all regions
Putin officially signs a decree accepting Ukraine’s four occupied regions as new territories of Russia, paving the way for him to escalate his war against his ex-Soviet neighbor
“Do we really want to see perversions that lead to degradation and extinction imposed on children in our schools from the earliest years, to see inculcated in them that there are other genders in addition to women and men and given the opportunity to undergo gender reassignment activities.” ?’ he asked. “This is a complete denial of humanity, the overthrow of faith and traditional values,” he added. “Indeed, the suppression of freedom itself has taken on the hallmarks of a religion: outright Satanism.”
At the end of his diatribe, Putin and four pro-Kremlin puppet officials took part in a ceremony to formalize the annexations.
The group held hands and chanted ‘Russia, Russia’ to effusive applause. Later, Putin told the Russians gathered in Red Square that “the victory will be ours” in a conflict that has lasted more than seven months.
Vladimir Putin can be seen on a screen in Red Square addressing a rally and concert in Moscow
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen immediately and directly rebuked the attempt to claim 15 percent of Ukraine.
“All areas illegally occupied by Russian invaders are Ukrainian lands and will always be part of this sovereign nation,” she insisted. Her comments came before all 27 EU leaders issued a rare joint statement saying they would “never recognize this illegal annexation”.
“The Crimea, Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, Donetsk and Luhansk are Ukraine,” it added.
Far-right leader Giorgia Meloni, who won Italy’s general election last week, also rejected Moscow’s move. She said Putin had once again displayed a Soviet-style neo-imperialist vision, which threatened the security of the entire continent.
“This further violation by Russia of the rules of coexistence between nations confirms the need for unity by Western democracies,” said the woman tipped to become the next prime minister.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: “The Russian regime must be held accountable for this horrific violation of international law. That’s why we’re working with our international partners to increase economic pressure through new targeted service bans.
“What is happening in Ukraine matters to all of us and the UK will do everything possible to assist their fight for freedom.”