President Vladimir Putin delivered a fiercely patriotic speech on Tuesday describing Crimea as an inseparable part of Russia and accusing the West of reverting to Cold War containment by trying to stop the Ukrainian region joining Russia. To thunderous applause, and some tears among women in the audience, Putin defended Russia's actions in the crisis over the Black Sea peninsula which has pushed relations with the West to a post-Cold War low.
Reuters: Putin portrays Crimea as part of Russia, blasts West
Russian President Vladimir Putin
