(VOVWORLD) -President Vladimir Putin Friday chaired a signing ceremony for Russian annexation of four Ukrainian regions, including Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Lugansk.
 Russian President Vladimir Putin announces the annexation of Ukraine's Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions at the Kremlin on September 30. Photo: Reuters
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"This is the will of millions of people and they made their decision in the referendum which ended on September 27,” he said in a speech. Putin also called on “the Kyiv regime to immediately cease hostilities and return to the negotiation table”.
In response to the decision, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine would continue to fight to regain their territory and make Russia suffer the worst consequences.
UN Secretary-General Antonio called the annexation a “dangerous escalation”.