U.S. condemns annexation, imposes new sanctions Zelenskiy announces NATO membership application Says no peace talks while Putin is in power Putin slams neo-colonial ‘Satanic’ West Says U.S. 1945 atomic bomb use set precedent ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine, Sept 30 (Reuters) – A defiant Vladimir Putin proclaimed Russia’s annexation of a swathe of Ukraine in a pomp-filled Kremlin ceremony, promising Moscow would triumph in its “special military operation” even as he faced a potentially serious new military reversal. The Russian president’s proclamation of Russian rule over 15% of Ukraine – the biggest annexation in Europe since World War Two – was roundly rejected by Ukraine and Western countries, with the United States and Britain announcing new sanctions. Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiy said his country had submitted a fast track application to join the NATO military alliance and that he would not hold peace talks with Russia while Putin was still president. Putin’s […]