MOSCOW, September 30 – Novosti. Vladimir Putin delivered a speech at a rally-concert on Red Square in honor of the results of the referenda on joining Russia to the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions.
The President called the day of signing the agreements historic. He noted that Russia gave the inhabitants of these regions the right to choose, and they did. According to him, for many years they tried to eradicate historical consciousness among the inhabitants of Donbass , but they retained their love for the Motherland.
“For decades, they tried to eradicate their historical consciousness from these people, destroy their traditions, forbid them to speak their native language, ban culture – nothing succeeded. These people carried love for their historical homeland in their hearts, passed it on to their children,” he said. Putin.
The head of state added that when joining new territories, Russia opens not only the doors, but also the heart.
“Russia does not only open the doors of our home for our brothers and sisters: it opens its heart to them. Welcome home,” the president said.
In addition, Putin stressed the importance of this step for Russia as well. According to him, the country with the accession of Kherson , Zaporozhye and Donbass gained even greater strength.
“We have become stronger. Because we are together, the truth is behind us, and there is strength in truth, which means victory . Victory will be ours!” he noted.
Earlier, in the Georgievsky Hall of the Kremlin, a ceremony was held to sign agreements on the admission of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions to Russia . The documents were signed by Vladimir Putin and the heads of regions: Denis Pushilin , Leonid Pasechnik , Evgeny Balitsky and Vladimir Saldo .
Referendums on joining Russia were held in four regions from 23 to 27 September. In the DPR , this proposal was supported by 99.23 percent of the voters, in the LPR – 98.42 percent, in the Kherson region – 87.05 percent, in the Zaporozhye region – 93.11 percent.
