I’ll leave the semantic arguments to the Latin majors. Russia may see some legitimacy to its claim to Crimean territory, but it’s a self-asserted claim and it should be treated with as much respect as any other self-asserted claim.
I’m not talking about semantics nor about the international legality of it.
The difference between your assertion and this situation Is that in addition to asserting that Crimea is now a part of Russia they also control and govern it. I don’t think there is a lot anyone can do about that.
I don’t think that’s a contentious claim to make, it’s simply just the reality of it.
What will be more interesting will be to see how far Western/NATO countries will go to change that reality and how far Russia will go to prevent that.
Again, I assert that I am mayor of Moscow.