Vladimir Putin illegally seizes four Ukrainian regions which he swears to defend “by all means”

Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed four Ukrainian regions and vowed to use “all power and means” at his disposal to defend them.

"It's the will of millions of people," he said in a speech to hundreds of dignitaries in St George's Hall in the Kremlin.

The ceremony came three days after the completion of hastily organized referendums in which Moscow's proxies in occupied regions claimed majorities of up to 99% in favor of joining Russia .

Ukraine and Western governments called the votes fake, illegitimate and conducted at gunpoint.

In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed Ukraine's request for "accelerated NATO membership". He said Ukraine was a de facto part of the NATO alliance, but was now seeking to make his country's membership legal.

Vladimir Putin delivers a speech in which he pledged to use "all power and means" at his disposal to defend the four Ukrainian regions he annexed (

Picture:

SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

“Today Ukraine is asking to do so de jure… We are taking a decisive step by signing Ukraine's application for accelerated NATO membership,” he said.

p>

Zelensky's provocative move came after Putin said earlier today that Russia had four new regions.

He said, "Referendums have been held...their results are well known."

"The people have made their choice... This is an inalienable right, which is enshrined in Article 1 of the United Nations Charter. The people of Luhansk, Donetsk, the Kherson region and the Zaporizhzhia region become our compatriots forever."