NATO chief warns Russia in opposition to annexing Ukrainian territories – Muricas News

In keeping with NATO Secretary Basic Jens Stoltenberg, the referendums held by Russia on the annexation of a number of Ukrainian territories symbolize a brazen violation of worldwide legislation. “The sham referendums held by Russia don't have any legitimacy and are a blatant violation of worldwide legislation,” he wrote Tuesday on Twitter after a gathering with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“These areas belong to Ukraine.” Stoltenberg as soon as once more made it clear that the NATO allies absolutely help Ukraine’s sovereignty and its proper to self-defense.

The mock referendums in addition to the partial mobilization and the nuclear threats from Russia symbolize an escalation of the battle, Stoltenberg mentioned just a little later at a gathering with the Social Democratic Group within the EU Parliament. Any use of nuclear weapons is unacceptable. On the identical time, one should stop the Ukraine conflict from turning right into a conflict between NATO and Russia, mentioned Stoltenberg.

Compelled to vote

The mock referendums should not acknowledged worldwide as a result of they had been held in violation of Ukrainian and worldwide legal guidelines and with out minimal democratic requirements. Prior to now few days, observers had pointed to quite a few instances during which the Ukrainian residents of the areas had been pressured to vote.

Within the separatist areas of Donetsk and Luhansk in japanese Ukraine’s Donbass and within the southern Ukrainian areas of Cherson and Zaporizhia, Russia has been voting on secession from Ukraine since Friday. The RIA information company reported the primary outcomes on Tuesday.

Accordingly, a majority is alleged to have voted for a connection. In Kherson, 96.97 p.c voted for the annexation, after counting 14 p.c of the vote. In Zaporizhia it's 98.19 p.c, based mostly on 18 p.c of votes counted. Votes had been additionally held in Donetsk and Luhansk, for which RIA didn't give any figures.

On the finish of the sham referendums, the USA additionally made it clear what their place was on the areas being annexed to Russia. “We and plenty of different international locations have already made it unmistakably clear,” mentioned Overseas Minister Antony Blinken. “We won't – by no means – acknowledge the annexation of Ukrainian territory by Russia.” He repeated a menace from US President Joe Biden that the US desires to impose “extra quick and excessive prices” on Russia due to the so-called referendums.

“It’s vital to recollect what’s happening right here,” Blinken mentioned. “Russia has invaded Ukraine, occupied territory and is finishing up a diabolical plan in elements of the occupied territories, the place the native inhabitants has been displaced.” Some Ukrainians have been deported, whereas others will “fairly merely disappear”. (dpa, AFP)