Putin Formally Annexes Ukrainian Territories As Kyiv Seeks NATO Entry

The transcript discusses Russia's annexation of four Ukrainian regions, marked by a ceremony where Putin vowed to retain control. The annexation followed referenda deemed fraudulent by Ukraine and Western nations. President Biden and Western leaders refuse to recognize these territories as Russian, citing violations of Ukraine's sovereignty and recent Russian military setbacks.

What did Putin claim regarding the newly occupied territories?

What was the nature of the votes held in the regions of Ukraine according to the text?

How did President Biden describe the annexed territories?

What did the United States say about Russia's claims on Ukraine's territory?

What was the reaction of Western nations to Russia's actions in Ukraine?