Putin's Great Triumph

"[Russia's repeat illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory is] the largest attempted annexation of European territory by force since the Second World War."

"[The war is at a] pivotal moment [and Russia's moves to claim sovereignty over 15 percent of Ukraine marks] the most serious escalation since the start of the war."

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary-General 

"The entire territory of our country will be liberated from this enemy. Russia already knows this. It feels our power."

"De facto, we have already proven compatibility with alliance standards [regarding Ukraine's NATO application]. We trust each other, we help each other, and we protect each other."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy

"History has called us to a battlefield to fight for our people, for the grand historic Russia, for future generations."

"I want the Kyiv regime and their sponsors in the West to hear me, to heed me."

"The United States is the only country in the world that has used nuclear weapons twice, destroying the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan,"

"And they created a precedent."

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a ceremony in Moscow on Friday to declare the annexation Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, after holding what Russian authorities called referendums in the occupied areas of Ukraine that were condemned by Kyiv and governments worldwide. (Sputnik/Grigory Sysoyev/Pool/Reuters)

Vladimir Putin ceremoniously signed treaties in his illegal annexation of additional Ukrainian territory. In response, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy accelerated an application for NATO membership. What is an obvious 'red line' for Ukraine has been challenged by a 'red line' for Russia. Bringing each country that much closer to full-scale war. Putin feels entitled to send his military into Ukraine, appearing to think that should Ukraine go further than opposing Russian entry, to begin sending missiles directly into Russia, that would be an act of war, not a mere 'special military operation'.

As far as Putin is concerned the annexed areas of Ukraine belongs to him, to the Russian Federation; the signing ceremony made it all legal, in his opinion. What is essentially illegal as far as Putin is concerned, and not to be countenanced is NATO, the world's larges military alliance, welcoming Ukraine into its midst. Putin is serious about his outraged version of NIMBY.

 

While inviting Ukraine to meet for peace talks, they must be without 'conditions', such as a polite request to return Ukrainian territory back where it belongs, with Ukraine. "We are ready for a dialogue with Russia", responded Mr. Zelenskiy, "but with another president of Russia". The 27 member-states of the EU roundly rejected Russia's occupation and annexation of the four areas "as a pretext for this further violation of Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity".

Russian President Vladimir Putin poses with Denis Pushilin, Leonid Pasechnik on the left and Volodymyr Saldo and Yevgeny Balitsky on the right, the Russian-installed leaders in Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, at a ceremony to declare the annexation of the Russian-controlled territories on Friday. (Sputnik/Dmitry Astakhov/Pool/Reuters)

Putin's speech included the warning that he expects Ukraine to treat the votes that took place in the occupied areas "with respect". Sham votes where armed military officers accompanied movable voting apparatus to neighbourhoods, banging on doors to force residents to come out and vote for their region to join Russia. For, as Putin iterated and reiterated, Russia was only honouring a historical mission in reclaiming post-Soviet great-power status to counter Western domination.

 

The Donetsk and Luhansk, southern Kherson region, and Zaporizhzhia, partially occupied by the Russian military since the beginning of the invasion, now, according to Vladimir Putin, reunited with greater Russia, as the universe spins as it should. Now comes completion of the charade, where both houses of the Kremlin/s parliament must rubber-stamp the treaties to bring into law Russia's possession, when they are to be sent back to Putin for 'approval'. 

 

And in Russia? Russians at state-operated companies and institutions were informed they must attend celebrations, concerts, rallies, along with students urged to skip classes to wave Russian flags and watch entertainers celebrate the great event.

 

Russian fighting vehicles destroyed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces during a counteroffensive operation are shown near the town of Izium, Ukraine, on Friday. (Vladyslav Musiienko/Reuters)