Putin's Annexation of Ukrainian Regions: One Year Later
Russian President Vladimir Putin claims that residents of the annexed regions in Ukraine expressed their desire to join Russia in recent local elections. However, Western countries dismiss these claims as meaningless and illegal, citing mass coercion of voters. Meanwhile, Switzerland plans to assist in demining efforts in Ukraine, despite its ban on arms exports to the country. The Swiss Foreign Minister announced plans to finance a quarter of the mine clearance operations needed in Ukraine, with the Swiss parliament still needing to approve the step.