MOSCOW, RUSSIA SEPTEMBER 30, 2022: Russia's President Vladimir Putin speaks in the Grand Kremlin Palace before a signing ceremony for treaties on the accession of the Donetsk People's Republic, the Lugansk People's Republic, and the Kherson Region and Zaporizhzhia (Zaporozhye) Region of Ukraine to Russia. Referendums for joining Russia were held in the Lugansk People's Republic, the Donetsk People's Republic and the Kherson Region and Zaporizhzhia Region of Ukraine from 23 to 27 September 2022. With 100 percent of ballots counted, the majority of the voters have supported accession to Russia. In all the four territories, the vote has been declared valid. Grigory Sysoyev/POOL/TASS
Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Kiev to immediately cease hostilities and return to the negotiating table.
“We call on the Kiev regime to immediately cease fire, all hostilities, to stop the war that Kiev started back in 2014, and to return back to the negotiating table,” Putin said, speaking during the ceremony of signing of treaties on accession of four new territories.
Putin noted that Russia repeatedly stated its readiness for negotiations.
