AKIPRESS.COM - Defying Ukrainian protests and Western sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty in Moscow on Tuesday making Crimea part of Russia again but said he did not plan to seize any other regions of Ukraine.

In a fiercely patriotic address to a joint session of the Parliament in the Kremlin, Putin said Crimea's disputed referendum vote on Sunday had shown the overwhelming will of the people to be reunited with Russia.

Putin also highlighted: “In the hearts and minds of people, Crimea has always been and remains an inseparable part of Russia.”

The Parliament is expected to begin ratifying the treaty within days.