Tens of thousands of people have celebrated, with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, the first anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
The festivities came a year to the day since the Russian president signed a treaty integrating Crimea, on 18 March 2014.
The president told the crowd outside the Kremlin that the move was to protect ethnic Russians and regain the nation’s “historic roots”.
“We realised that the question of Crimea is not just a question of territory, even territory of strategic importance,” Putin said. “This deals with the millions of Russian people, about the millions of our compatriots who need our help and support… Thank you for your support. Long live Russia!”
Vladimir Putin said his country would “overcome all problems and difficulties that they try to throw at us from outside” – a reference to Western sanctions that followed the annexation and the Moscow-backed rebellion in eastern Ukraine.
He went on to say that he continues to think that “Ru
