Russia's Putin praises Crimea's "return home" in New Year address

Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in a video conference with members of Russian Geographical Society expedition to the Southern Pole in Moscow, December 26, 2014. REUTERS/Alexei Druzhinin/RIA Novosti/Pool

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised New Year's address on Wednesday that the "return home" of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula to Moscow's control would forever remain an important chapter in Russia's history.

Putin is facing the biggest challenge of his 15-year rule as the Russian economy is sliding sharply into recession, hurt by Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis and falling prices for oil, Russia's chief export.