That was indeed an annexation by the European Union.
And it started with Helmut Kohl recognizing Croatia and Slovenia, even against US policy at the time.
This conflict was a prelude to the eventual 2007 “enlargement”, which gave the EU access to the Black Sea.
There was self rule in those areas before the E. U. came in.
There is self rule there today.
Is there self rule in Crimea? No.
There is a difference.