Why Putin annexed 15% of Ukrainian territory?

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees declaring four Ukrainian areas to be part of Russia

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a move that has been widely criticised as a "illegal annexation."

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Putin made the announcement in the same chandeliered St. George's Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace

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where he declared in March 2014 that the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea was part of Russia

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Russia has decided to acquire the lands, which account for approximately 15% of Ukraine.

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Many believe that this will alter the final outcome of the seven-month conflict.

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Ukraine has reclaimed significant swaths of land and prompted a Russian retreat.

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