Russian president Vladimir Putin today proclaimed Russia's annexation of a swathe of Ukraine in a pomp-filled Kremlin ceremony, promising Moscow would triumph in its "special military operation" against Kyiv.His proclamation of Russian rule over 15 percent of Ukraine has already been roundly rejected by other Western countries, with the United States and Britain announcing new sanctions.In a statement released this afternoon, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand also did not recognise "these illegal attempts to change Ukraine's borders or territorial sovereignty"."These will include imposing further sanctions under our Russia Sanctions Act including on those who support Russia's illegal war in Ukraine, which has led to these fabricated claims of annexation."She has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to call in the Russian Embassy, "to convey New Zealand's strong opposition to the actions taken by Russia in recent days and to call on Russia to cease its attempts to illegally annex Ukrainian territory"."