* Putin's visit comes after he made a surprise trip to Crimea earlier this week
* It is the first time Putin is known to have visited territory captured in the war V
ladimir Putin has made a defiant visit to Mariupol where he brazenly praised 'reconstruction' works of the city which he bombed to a shell of its former self, it was reported today.
It is the Russian president's first trip to the Ukrainian territory, which Moscow illegally annexed in September, since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict in February last year, and it comes a day after he travelled to annexed Crimea.
The timing of Putin's 'spontaneous' visit to contested areas will raise concerns for the West, as they took place just days after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Russian leader accusing him of war crimes.
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WNU Editor: The official Kremlin line is that the decision to go to Mariupol was done at the last minute .... Putin’s trip to Donbass was 'spontaneous’ – Kremlin (RT). Russian President Putin is now back in Russia .... Russian president visits command post of special military operation — Kremlin (TASS).
Russian President Putin Visits Mariupol In His First Trip To Occupied Ukraine
Russia-Ukraine war live: Putin visits Mariupol in first trip to occupied eastern Ukraine, says Russian state media -- The Guardian
Live: Ukraine blast Putin for coming to ‘admire the ruins’ of Mariupol -- France 24
Ukraine updates: Putin visits occupied city of Mariupol -- DW
Putin makes surprise trip to Mariupol, symbol of Ukrainian tenacity -- AP
Putin makes surprise trip to Russian-occupied Mariupol in wake of ICC warrant -- CNBC/Reuters
Putin Visits Mariupol in First Trip to Occupied Territory -- AFP
Ukraine war: Putin pays visit to occupied Mariupol, state media reports -- BBC
Vladimir Putin pays surprise visit to occupied Mariupol in Ukraine -- The Guardian
Vladimir Putin visits captured Ukrainian city for first time since invading -- FOX News
Putin visits occupied Ukraine, stopping in Crimea and Mariupol -- Business Insider
Russian President Putin Visits Mariupol: Video -- Sputnik