Russian President Vladimir Putin says Crimea’s integration with Russia was the most important milestone in the country’s history.

In his New Year's Eve message on Wednesday, Putin relished 2014 as a historic year which saw the integration of Crimea into Russia.

A part of Ukraine for more than 50 years, the Crimean Peninsula joined Russia in March 2014 after the overwhelming majority of its citizens participated in a referendum demanding integration into the Russian Federation. The move raised controversy and strained the relations between Russia and the Western governments.

Putin said Crimea’s referendum showed that the residents of Crimea including those in Sevastopol were firm in their decision to “go back home,” adding that the move will remain as the “most important milestone” in the history of Russia.

In his message, Putin praised all Russians for their “unfaltering readiness” to defend the national interests during the year. Putin also stated that what Russia did in the staging and organization of Winter Olympics in Sochi was the best ever in the history.

Russia ended 2015 with a relatively sharp decrease in the value of its currency, which many say is related to the West’s many rounds of sanctions on the country and a fall in the price of oil in international markets. 

MS/HMV/SS