MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/. The Donbass republics and the Novorossiya regions had a tougher time coming back to Russia than Crimea, but the end result was unity, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, addressing a Red Square event dedicated to the tenth anniversary of Crimea’s reunification with Russia.

"As for Novorossiya and Donbass, the people who live there also said back in the days of the 'Russian Spring' that they wanted to return to their family but their path home turned out to be far more difficult and tragic. However, we still did it!" Putin said.

He stressed that "this is another great event in our country’s history." "Now, we are growing and moving forward together, arm in arm," the Russian leader emphasized.