Vladimir Putin slo fast at Krim alltid har vært en del av Russland, da han talte til begge kamre av nasjonalforsamlingen og de regionale guvernørene i St. Georg-hallen i Kreml.

“Crimea has always been an integral part of Russia in the hearts and minds of people,” Mr. Putin declared in remarks that reached deep into Russian and Soviet history to justify the move. “That faith has been preserved and passed on from generation to generation.”

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/19/world/europe/ukraine.html?emc=edit_na_20140318