![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BQEYISF4OF7IASBHVMODCACLHQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=e96248233ee77d70209058ac0b537aff1d1554a44087bc1a0f16b4c4bb2a515c&width=400&height=225)
People gather in front of screens located near the Kremlin before the live broadcast of the ceremony. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AKYAH46H453OE7L56USVNW5KBA.jpg?smart=true&auth=aba170f319fe3aba44c4f3e6bb0d5d84e0bc5079d6fbcc98f8b0e3de36e2c44b&width=400&height=225)
From left, Moscow-appointed head of Kherson region Vladimir Saldo, Moscow-appointed head of Zaporizhzhia region Yevgeny Balitsky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, leader of the Donetsk People's Republic Denis Pushilin, and leader of the Luhansk People's Republic Leonid Pasechnik during a ceremony to sign an annexation agreement with Russia in Moscow. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PNCDA3GSP6DAYRDBNPQXIFLOGU.jpg?smart=true&auth=029e8dfcfbb4951895b679ba45852d7c0c2b2087169a9a96f74b9ea1fc3af8f1&width=400&height=225)
Russians gather for a celebration after the ceremony in central Moscow. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MLQLO6HBXKC6KPAIMY3EOTFBXQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=44a4e6f152364130f2e83b82ec3151fe843e99525d80057fcadfdabbc9640f71&width=400&height=225)
People gather near a screen showing Mr Putin during a broadcast of the ceremony. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IJZXRLUJAPQSXGTJ5XOMDGRYUY.jpg?smart=true&auth=3a4567223137d3e5047081d3a6811b52125f7a1189299bf7bb893fc9576217fa&width=400&height=225)
Mr Putin speaks during the ceremony to sign the treaties for the new territories' accession to Russia at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O3GZWBVBXKVMCRAKU3OGTPSBSQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f32f4d8890597d615aa95ef5dcc4cfa86c917b683463e0c898ce2486c3e4145b&width=400&height=225)
Law enforcement officers stand guard as people walk towards Red Square to attend the ceremony marking the annexation of the Russian-controlled territories. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L37APCFRJJHEKM4FDEO3OEV4ZY.jpg?smart=true&auth=d228a34f8b7aeb704b44779b53abf3e89a744757f94dc0cbcacf73b2dbb51d33&width=400&height=225)
Participants listen to Mr Putin at the ceremony in the Georgievsky Hall of the Great Kremlin Palace in Moscow. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OPB7W62GGGSLVKQQ6EAH34YXVY.jpg?smart=true&auth=a7caed1ff5a43fa7731e493552a848956b76fb8b84553d76f140ff71cf5338fc&width=400&height=225)
Honour guards attend the ceremony. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QIN3BE4GK6ONHTZ4KOQ6WCWV4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=9e2c2cbcbf34f31c736e6f8d55075c5554ee8043e5c3b308d031dcf20cae9dc1&width=400&height=225)
Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu arrives at the ceremony. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OL3HTTYPTQDA7S7PLPPXU252H4.jpg?smart=true&auth=a969638878a9c5bad5c4e67ba0f78154855a4e06feb7090324c5657031db9336&width=400&height=225)
People walk towards Red Square in Moscow. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BQEYISF4OF7IASBHVMODCACLHQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=e96248233ee77d70209058ac0b537aff1d1554a44087bc1a0f16b4c4bb2a515c&width=400&height=225)
People gather in front of screens located near the Kremlin before the live broadcast of the ceremony. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AKYAH46H453OE7L56USVNW5KBA.jpg?smart=true&auth=aba170f319fe3aba44c4f3e6bb0d5d84e0bc5079d6fbcc98f8b0e3de36e2c44b&width=400&height=225)
From left, Moscow-appointed head of Kherson region Vladimir Saldo, Moscow-appointed head of Zaporizhzhia region Yevgeny Balitsky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, leader of the Donetsk People's Republic Denis Pushilin, and leader of the Luhansk People's Republic Leonid Pasechnik during a ceremony to sign an annexation agreement with Russia in Moscow. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PNCDA3GSP6DAYRDBNPQXIFLOGU.jpg?smart=true&auth=029e8dfcfbb4951895b679ba45852d7c0c2b2087169a9a96f74b9ea1fc3af8f1&width=400&height=225)
Russians gather for a celebration after the ceremony in central Moscow. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MLQLO6HBXKC6KPAIMY3EOTFBXQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=44a4e6f152364130f2e83b82ec3151fe843e99525d80057fcadfdabbc9640f71&width=400&height=225)
People gather near a screen showing Mr Putin during a broadcast of the ceremony. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IJZXRLUJAPQSXGTJ5XOMDGRYUY.jpg?smart=true&auth=3a4567223137d3e5047081d3a6811b52125f7a1189299bf7bb893fc9576217fa&width=400&height=225)
Mr Putin speaks during the ceremony to sign the treaties for the new territories' accession to Russia at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O3GZWBVBXKVMCRAKU3OGTPSBSQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f32f4d8890597d615aa95ef5dcc4cfa86c917b683463e0c898ce2486c3e4145b&width=400&height=225)
Law enforcement officers stand guard as people walk towards Red Square to attend the ceremony marking the annexation of the Russian-controlled territories. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L37APCFRJJHEKM4FDEO3OEV4ZY.jpg?smart=true&auth=d228a34f8b7aeb704b44779b53abf3e89a744757f94dc0cbcacf73b2dbb51d33&width=400&height=225)
Participants listen to Mr Putin at the ceremony in the Georgievsky Hall of the Great Kremlin Palace in Moscow. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OPB7W62GGGSLVKQQ6EAH34YXVY.jpg?smart=true&auth=a7caed1ff5a43fa7731e493552a848956b76fb8b84553d76f140ff71cf5338fc&width=400&height=225)
Honour guards attend the ceremony. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QIN3BE4GK6ONHTZ4KOQ6WCWV4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=9e2c2cbcbf34f31c736e6f8d55075c5554ee8043e5c3b308d031dcf20cae9dc1&width=400&height=225)
Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu arrives at the ceremony. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OL3HTTYPTQDA7S7PLPPXU252H4.jpg?smart=true&auth=a969638878a9c5bad5c4e67ba0f78154855a4e06feb7090324c5657031db9336&width=400&height=225)
People walk towards Red Square in Moscow. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BQEYISF4OF7IASBHVMODCACLHQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=e96248233ee77d70209058ac0b537aff1d1554a44087bc1a0f16b4c4bb2a515c&width=400&height=225)
People gather in front of screens located near the Kremlin before the live broadcast of the ceremony. Reuters