Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to the occupied territory of Mariupol in eastern Ukraine on Monday. The visit marks the first time Putin has personally visited the region since Russian-backed separatist forces began occupying the area in 2014.
During his visit, Putin met with local officials and visited a factory that produces natural gas for local residents. He also made a speech to residents, in which he praised their resilience and promised to help rebuild the region.
Putin’s visit is seen as a sign of support for the separatist forces who have been fighting the Ukrainian government since 2014. The visit also follows recent talks between Russia and Ukraine to try to resolve the conflict in the region.