Putin Takes a Victory Lap in Crimea and Moscow
 

Putin Takes a Victory Lap in Crimea and Moscow
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Russian President Vladimir Putin took a short trip to Crimea today, his first since Russia annexed the small peninsula to the south of Ukraine in March.

His visit falls on the 69th anniversary of Victory Day, Russia's celebration of defeating Nazi Germany. It's also the 70th anniversary of Crimeans liberating themselves from Hitler's rule.

See also: Putin Shifts to a Softer Tone on Ukraine — for Today

#Crimea=Sudetendland RT @olacicho: I came. I saw. I conquered pic.twitter.com/ciUrg3kFvX

— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) May 9, 2014

Putin arrived in Crimea at the naval port of Sevastopol only hours after a Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square. The first vehicle in a procession to ho**r the holiday featured a huge Crimean flag, according to the*New York Times, continuing the Russian government's theme of equating its annexation of Crimea with the defeat of fascists. Read more...

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