PUTIN VOWS TO USE ANY MEANS TO DEFEND ANNEXED LANDS

The nuclear-backed threat comes as he signed treaty annexing four Ukrainian regions in biggest land grab since WW II

MOSCOW RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin vowed to protect the newly annexed regions of Ukraine by "all available means," a nuclear-backed threat at a Kremlin signing ceremony where he also railed at the West.

In his speech, Putin urged Ukraine to sit down for peace talks but immediately insisted he won't discuss handing back occupied regions keeping him on a collision course with the Ukrainian government and its Western backers that have rejected his land-grab.

In a Kremlin ceremony at the ornate St George's Hall to herald the annexation of the occupied parts of Ukraine, Putin accused the West of fuelling the hostilities as part of what he said is a plan to turn Russia into a 'colony' and a 'crowds of slaves'. The hardening of his position, in the conflict that has killed and wounded tens of thousands of people, further cranked up tensions, already at levels unseen since the Cold War.

"We call on the Kyiv regime to immediately stop fighting and stop all hostilities... and return to the negotiating table," the Russian leader added.

The packed hall erupted to chants of "Russia! Russia" after the four leaders inked the deal, and Putin - rarely seen making physical contact since the pandemic - joined hands with his proxy leaders and was shown shouting along in unison on state TV.

Leading up to the ceremony Putin warned he could use nuclear weapons to retain control of the territories as Kyiv vowed the move would make no difference to its aims of kicking out Russian troops.

After the signing ceremony of treaties to join Russia, Moscow-installed leaders of the occupied regions gathered around Putin and they all linked hands, before then joining chants of "Russia! Russia!" with the audience.