That part of Ukraine is really part of Russia. and that an illegal referendum can effect a transfer of a sovereign nation.
Definitely he wants to use these claims to rectify all the bad things he is doing and is going to do in the future.
This is a dictator lie that indicates that Russia is possibly preparing for a tactical nuclear strike.
Putin is backed into a corner and is trying to set up a rationale for the use of a massive--possibly nuclear--strike on Ukraine.
This is purely an authoritarian propaganda statement.
Political propaganda that leads to violence is never acceptable.
This is classic doublespeak. The result of an illegal referendum does not make the territories Russian.
-They are not part of Russia. so how can they be returned to Russia?