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Russian President Putin has signed a treaty of annexation of four occupied territories in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Zelensky strongly protested against it by joining NATO, and EU leaders condemned the merger as clearly illegal.
Correspondent Cho Myung-ah from Paris reports.
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Russian President Putin signs the annexation of occupied territories in Ukraine.
The four regional leaders, Kherson, Zaporiza, Donetsk and Luhansk, also stamp one after another.
These regions decided to annex Russia with 87-99% of votes in favor of the referendum.
[블라디미르 푸틴/러시아 대통령]
“They have chosen to stand with their people, with their country, with their destiny, and win together. The truth is with us.”
In a speech prior to signing, Putin stressed that the annexation of occupied territories was “in accordance with the right to self-determination guaranteed in the UN Charter” and that “Russia will use all means to defend its territories.”
Putin, who spent most of his speech on slandering the United States and the West, accused the West of trying to colonize Russia.
In his speech, Putin called for a “stop military action and let’s talk”, but Ukrainian President Zelensky dismissed it, saying, “As long as Putin is president, there will be no negotiations.”
In particular, he made clear his will to restore the territory, saying that “expulsion of the occupiers is the only way to restore peace,” and urged him to expedite the return of NATO membership, which he once said could be abandoned for the sake of a ceasefire.
[볼로디미르 젤렌스키/우크라이나 대통령]
“We are taking a decisive step by signing Ukraine’s fast-track application for accession to NATO.”
Leaders of EU member states issued a series of statements condemning the merger as a “clearly illegal merger in violation of the UN Charter and international law.”
It also promised military, social and financial support to Ukraine, while also hinting at the possibility of further sanctions against Russia.
The territorial annexation treaty is subject to ratification by the Russian Senate and House of Representatives and the final signature of the president, but as the chairman of the Senate announced that it will be reviewed on the 4th, the annexation proposal is expected to be processed quickly.
This is Cho Myung-ah from MBC News in Paris.
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