Vladimir Putin meets Russian & Crimean officials ahead of 8th anniversary of annexation

In a significant development, Russian President Vlimir Putin on Thursday held a meeting with top officials of Russia and Crimea ahe of 8th anniversary of annexation, according to local media reports. As reported by Sputnik, meeting on March 17 was held to dress Crimean Republic's and Sevastopol's social and ecomic development. 

Sputnik reported, citing Putin as saying, " new realities require Russian ecomy to undergo structural changes and y will le to an increase in unemployment and inflation. He furr ded that, " goal of authorities is to minimise m."

tably, tomorrow marks eight-year anniversary of Russia's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, largest land grab in Europe since World War II. In 2014, after months of protests against Ukraine's pro-Russian president resulted in his ouster, Putin ordered annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. He n backed pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, who have been fighting Ukrainian soldiers in an eight-year war that has killed 14,000 lives.

Annexation of Crimea

Despite years of western sanctions, Russia retains control of Crimea, which it seized following a referendum that is widely regarded as illegitimate. Earlier on March 16, 2014, a contested and globally condemned referendum was held, wherein Moscow stated that 96.77% of Crimeans chose to join Russia. On March 18, 2014, Russia legally incorporated Crimea as two Russian federal subjects – Republic of Crimea and federal city of Sevastopol – despite international denunciation. Since n, Crimea and Sevastopol have been on Moscow Time.

President Vlimir Putin h demanded that Crimea be taken to defend ethnic Russians from "far-right fanatics" who, according to Russia, overthrew President Yanukovych. Following annexation, EU and US slapped sanctions on Russia. Dmitry Medvedev, n Russian Prime Minister, declared Crimea completely integrated into Russia in July 2015. After that, Ukraine stated in 2016 that Russia h boosted its military posture along Crimean border. Ukraine retaliated by deploying extra troops closer to Crimean border.

Im: AP