Putin's historic visit to Crimea

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Crimea to take part in celebrations dedicated to the 69th anniversary of Victory Day.Vladimir Putin took part in the celebrations in Sevastopol. Together with veterans, he laid flowers at the memorial to the heroic defense of the city in 1941-42.“The example of Sevastopol shows the world that in places where people are ready to fight for their freedom, the enemy will never conquer,” Putin said. “We are sure that 2014 will make it into the history of Sevastopol and the history of our country, because this is the year that the people of Crimea decided firmly to be with Russia, thus proving their loyalty to historical memory and the memory of our predecessors,” he said.“We have lots of work in front of us, but we will overcome all the difficulties, because we are together, and that means we have become stronger,” the Washington Post quotes Putin as saying.Putin reviewed sailors in the Bay of Sevastopol, and visited 10 warships and dozens of fighter jets. Tonight he will attend a concert dedicated to the victory.The visit drew immediate condemnation from the head of NATO. Other world leaders had counseled against Putin’s trip in advance.“We consider the Russian annexation of Crimea to be illegal, illegitimate and we don’t recognize it,” NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters in Tallinn, Estonia, the Associated Press reported. “We still consider Crimea as Ukrainian territory, and from my knowledge the Ukrainian authorities haven’t invited Putin to visit Crimea, so from that point of view his visit to Crimea is inappropriate," the Washington Post reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Crimea to take part in celebrations dedicated to the 69th anniversary of Victory Day.
Vladimir Putin took part in the celebrations in Sevastopol. Together with veterans, he laid flowers at the memorial to the heroic defense of the city in 1941-42.
“The example of Sevastopol shows the world that in places where people are ready to fight for their freedom, the enemy will never conquer,” Putin said. “We are sure that 2014 will make it into the history of Sevastopol and the history of our country, because this is the year that the people of Crimea decided firmly to be with Russia, thus proving their loyalty to historical memory and the memory of our predecessors,” he said.
“We have lots of work in front of us, but we will overcome all the difficulties, because we are together, and that means we have become stronger,” the Washington Post quotes Putin as saying.
Putin reviewed sailors in the Bay of Sevastopol, and visited 10 warships and dozens of fighter jets. Tonight he will attend a concert dedicated to the victory.
The visit drew immediate condemnation from the head of NATO. Other world leaders had counseled against Putin’s trip in advance.
“We consider the Russian annexation of Crimea to be illegal, illegitimate and we don’t recognize it,” NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters in Tallinn, Estonia, the Associated Press reported. “We still consider Crimea as Ukrainian territory, and from my knowledge the Ukrainian authorities haven’t invited Putin to visit Crimea, so from that point of view his visit to Crimea is inappropriate," the Washington Post reports.