Putin says the people of the four Ukrainian regions he's planning to annex have made their decision.

"The results are known, well known," he says. The referendums were condemned as illegal by the West and legal experts.

"I'm sure that the Federal Assembly will support the four new subjects of Russian Federation... because this is the will of millions of people," Putin says to huge applause.

He goes on to say the results are the "natural right" of those who voted.

Putin now goes back into history - claiming that many generations of Russian have fought for these lands.