Putin signs treaty to annex partially occupied Ukrainian territories

At the Kremlin on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin, the heads of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk “People’s Republics,” and the leaders of the occupation administrations in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions signed a treaty on Russia’s annexation of the four partially occupied regions.

Immediately before the ceremony, Putin gave a speech in which he said the occupied territories are “returning home,” reminded his listeners that the U.S. has used nuclear weapons twice and accused Western countries once again of trying to establish a world order that only benefits them, among other claims.

The speech was broadcast live on Russian TV. Attendees included deputies from both chambers of Russia’s parliament, the heads of the country's regions, members of the government, and members of the presidential administration. Chechen head Ramzan Kadyrov appeared to shed tears at one point during the speech.