White House rushes to denounce referenda results prior to happening

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Sep 2022 21:16
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The US announces that it will not recognize the results of yet unconducted referenda to join Russia in the Donbass and Kherson regions.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated on Tuesday that the US condemned DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye region, and Kherson referenda to join Russia as "sham" actions and asserted that the US would not recognize the results.

"These referenda are an affront to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that underpin the international system," adding that "if this does transpire, the United States will never recognize Russia's claims to any purportedly annexed parts of Ukraine," said Sullivan.

The referenda, according to Sullivan, and a reported Russian plan to mobilize more soldiers, reflect Moscow's recent military defeats, including ceding sizable amounts of land to the Ukrainian military.

"These are not the actions of a confident country. These are not acts of strength, quite the opposite," Sullivan claimed.

Nato chief comments

The next referenda on joining Russia, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, will be viewed as "illegitimate" and the international community should denounce them.

"Sham referendums have no legitimacy & do not change the nature of #Russia’s war of aggression against #Ukraine. This is a further escalation in Putin’s war. The international community must condemn this blatant violation of international law & step up support for Ukraine," Stoltenberg said.

Sham referendums have no legitimacy & do not change the nature of #Russia’s war of aggression against #Ukraine. This is a further escalation in Putin’s war. The international community must condemn this blatant violation of international law & step up support for Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/NdcN3tO6Sy
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) September 20, 2022

DPR, LPR, Kherson, Zaporozhye to hold referendums

The Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR), Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), Kherson region, and Zaporozhye region announced that they will hold referenda on joining Russia from September 23 to 27.

It is notable that the Russian special operation in Ukraine initially was launched to offer the people of the Donbass region, DPR and LPR, safety and security from the Ukrainian Armed Force's aggressions that have been ongoing since 2014.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Russia's formal recognition of the independence of the DPR and LPR. This led to Ukraine escalating against the republics and using various tactics to try and undermine their leadership and hurt their civilians. That same month, Ukraine shelled a hospital in Donetsk and caused the death of eight civilians in another strike on the region.