Putin defends 2014 Crimea annexation

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a statement defending the 2014 annexation of Crimea. He asserted that the peninsula's decision to join Russia came after a 'Kiev coup' and not before, citing a 96% vote in favor. Putin framed the action as a 'salvation' and criticized the West for ignoring violence in Odessa at the time. The remarks are the latest in a series of Russian justifications for the takeover, which remains internationally condemned as an illegal occupation.