NATO called Russia’s attempt to annex regions an escalation

NATO called Russia’s attempt to annex regions an escalation

“False referendums have no legitimacy and do not change the nature of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. This is a new escalation in the war of [Vladimir] Putin,” Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter.

According to the head of the Western military alliance, “the international community must condemn this flagrant violation of international law and step up support for Ukraine.”

The pro-Russian separatist territories of Donetsk Y Lugansk -both in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine- as well as the regions of Kherson Y Zaporizhia announced the call for annexation referendums from the 23rd to the 27th of this month.

Ukraine responded immediately, promising to “liquidate” the Russian “threat”.

“Ukraine is going to solve the Russian question. The threat can only be eliminated by force”the head of the Ukrainian presidential administration wrote on Telegram, Andrii Yermak.

“The Russians can do whatever they want. That will not change anything,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dimitro Kuleba, in response to questions from journalists at the beginning of a meeting with the US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

In a tweet, he added: “Ukraine has every right to liberate its territories and will continue to liberate them no matter what Russia has to say.”

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington “unequivocally” rejects plans for referendums. French President Emmanuel Macron and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda used the word “parody” to describe referendums.

Russia already considers Lugansk and Donetsk, which together make up the Donbas region and which Moscow partially occupied in 2014, as independent states. Ukraine and the Western countries that support it maintain that all these areas – held by Russian forces – are illegally occupied.

In a social media post addressed to Putin, the leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Denis Pushilin, wrote: “I ask you, as soon as possible, in case of a positive decision in the referendum: consider that the DPR become part of Russia.

War in Ukraine Russian soldiers in Donetsk

A troop of Russian soldiers patrols Donetsk.

Photo: Reuters

disputed control

Some pro-Russian figures presented the referendums as an ultimatum for the West to accept Russia’s territorial advances or face an escalation of war with an enemy in possession of nuclear weapons.

“The invasion of Russian territory is a crime that allows you to use all self-defense forces,” Dmitry Medvedev said on social media.former Russian president and now vice president of President Vladimir Putin’s Security Council.

Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the RT television network, wrote: “Today a referendum, tomorrow recognition as part of the Russian Federation.”

But US and NATO allies who have been backing Ukraine with weapons and other military support said the plebiscites would be pointless.

If the public consultation plan “wasn’t so tragic, it would be comical,” Macron said to journalists in New York, where leaders have been gathering for the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.

“Russia started the war, invaded this region, bombed the population, made people flee and now they say that in this same region they are going to organize a referendum,” Macron said.

Sullivan told reporters: “We will never recognize this territory as anything more than a part of Ukraine. We unequivocally reject Russia’s actions.”

Recasting the fighting on occupied territory as an attack on Russia could also give Moscow a justification for mobilizing its 2 million reservists.

Until now, Moscow he has resisted the idea despite mounting losses in what he calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Sullivan said Washington was aware of reports that Putin might be considering ordering a mobilization, an act the US official said would do nothing to undermine Ukraine’s ability to push back Russian aggression.

Source: Ambito

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