(Reuters) – Russia has funds to support four Ukrainian regions which President Vladimir Putin began annexing last week and these funds are part of the country’s budget, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told the parliament.
Siluanov did not say how much would be spent.
Russia declared the annexations of the regions after holding what it called referendums in occupied areas of Ukraine. Western governments and Kyiv said the votes breached international law and were coercive and non-representative.
(Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
