Russia declared the annexations after holding what it described as referendums in the occupied areas of Ukraine: Kherson Y Zaporizhiaand the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk Y Lugansk. Western governments and kyiv said the votes constituted violations of international law And they were coercive.
Putin, during his speech in the St. George Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, demanded from Ukraine “an immediate ceasefire and a return to the negotiating table”, clarifying that “Russia will not address the return of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia in the talks.”
With a combative tone, like the one used when announcing the mobilization of 300,000 reservists, the Russian president made new nuclear threats, promising to “protect” the newly annexed lands “with all the forces and means at our disposal”. “The people made their choice. An unequivocal choice… This is the will of millions of people,” she stressed.
While the announcement was made, crowds began to arrive at the Red Square in Moscow, in front of the Kremlin building, the Reuters agency reported.
The annexation was signed in the presence of the pro-Russian leaders of the territories controlled in whole or in part by Moscow. The four leaders and Putin each in turn signed the annexation documents before an audience made up of members of the government, deputies and senators and other members of the political elite, before holding hands and chanting in unison “Russia!” with the room.
Shortly before Vladimir Putin’s announcement, the Kremlin made it clear that it had no details on the borders it would establish for the annexation of the occupied territories. “Regarding the (border) Kherson and Zaporizhia regions, I need to clarify this, I cannot answer this question right now,” said the presidential spokesman, Dmitry Peskov.
The other two regions of Donetsk and Lugansk will be annexed in their entiretyafter Russia recognized the sovereignty of the pro-Russian separatist regimes in late February, just before the Russian offensive against Ukraine.
condemnation of Europe
The leaders of the 27 countries of the European Union (EU) rejected this Friday and condemned “unequivocally” the “illegal annexation” of four regions by Russia, which they consider a “flagrant violation” of Ukraine’s rights.
In a statement released by the European Councilthe region’s leaders pointed out that “we do not and will never recognize the illegal referendums that Russia has designed as a pretext for this new violation of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
“We will never recognize this illegal annexation. These decisions are null and void and cannot produce any legal effect. crimeaKherson, Zaporizhia, Donetsk and Lugansk are Ukraine,” the European leaders said in their statement.
They also made a “call to all States and international organizations to unequivocally reject this illegal annexation.”
Source: Ambito
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