SEVASTOPOL, Ukraine (AP) — Today’s visit to Crimea by Russian President Vladimir Putin is being condemned by NATO and by Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry.
Putin today marked Russia’s Victory Day by presiding over a spectacle of warships and fighter jets in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol. And speaking before a jubilant crowd, he hailed Russia’s annexation of Crimea as a restoration of “historic justice.”
It was the second Victory Day celebration by Putin today, including the annual show of military muscle in a massive Red Square parade in Moscow.
In Crimea, Putin boarded a boat to sail past a line of Russian ships anchored in the bay. He greeted their crews before watching a flyby of 70 military aircraft.
Reacting to Putin’s visit, NATO’s secretary general repeated his stance that Crimea is not part of Russia. Anders Fogh Rasmussen (AHN’-derz fohg RAHS’-moo-sihn), visiting the former Soviet Republic of Estonia, said since Ukrainian officials hadn’t invited Putin to visit Crimea, his appearance there is “inappropriate.”
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APPHOTO MOSB197: Russian President Vladimir Putin heads to speak at a navy parade marking the Victory Day in Sevastopol, Crimea, Friday, May 9, 2014. Putin extolled the return of Crimea to Russia before tens of thousands Friday during his first trip to Black Sea peninsula since its annexation. The triumphant visit was quickly condemned by Ukraine and NATO. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) (9 May 2014)
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