Defiant Putin proclaims Ukrainian annexation as military setback looms

Headlines 08:31 01 Oct, 2022
The proclamation of Russian rule over 15% of Ukraine
Defiant Putin proclaims Ukrainian annexation as military setback looms

 A defiant Vladimir Putin proclaimed Russia's annexation of a swathe of Ukraine in a pomp-filled Kremlin ceremony, promising Moscow would triumph in its "special military operation" even as he faced a potentially serious new military reversal, Qazet.az reports.

The proclamation of Russian rule over 15% of Ukraine - the biggest annexation in Europe since World War Two - was roundly rejected by Ukraine and Western countries as illegal. The United States, Britain and Canada announced new sanctions.

Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiy said his country had submitted a fast track application to join the NATO military alliance and that he would not hold peace talks with Russia while Putin was still president.

Putin's proclamation coincided with Russian forces in one of the four regionsbeing annexed facing encirclement by Ukrainian troops, showing how tenuous Russia's grip is on some of territory it is claiming.