Russia does not seek to restore the Soviet Union, it does not need to, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, speaking at the ceremony of admission of four new territories to Russia.

"There is no Soviet Union, there is no past. And Russia doesn't need it today either, we don't aspire to it," he said. "But there is nothing stronger than the determination of millions of people who by their culture, faith, traditions, and language consider themselves part of Russia," he added.

Putin called on Kiev to immediately cease hostilities and return to the negotiating table. "We call on the Kiev regime to immediately cease fire, all hostilities, the war it unleashed back in 2014, and return to the negotiating table," he said, noting that Russia has repeatedly stated its readiness to negotiate.