World leaders condemn Russia’s call for referendum in occupied territories

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that the Ukrainian breakaway provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk will be holding referendums on whether they want to become part of Russia.

The Russian government recognized the two regions as independent states just before starting its “special military operation” in Ukraine, under the excuse of protecting the Pro-Russian minority.

According to Al Jazeera, the referendum will not only include the mostly unrecognized republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, but also the regions of Kherson and Zaporizhia. Though it’s important to highlight that Russia does not fully control any of the four regions.

The referendum is scheduled to take place between September 23 and September 27. However, many countries and international organizations have already declared that they won’t recognize the results.

The Ukrainian government, according to Al Jazeera, has labeled the referendums as “naive blackmail” that won’t change their stance.

In the past, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has commented that a referendum would close the door to the possibility of negotiating peace between Kyiv and Moscow.

“The Russians can do whatever they want. It will not change anything”, declared Ukrainian Defense Minister Dmytro Kuleba, as quoted by Al Jazeera.

Jake Sullivan, national security adviser for President Joe Biden, was quoted by The New York Times affirming that “the United States will never recognize Russia’s claims” to any purportedly annexed parts of Ukraine.

Sullivan described the elections as a “sham” and speculated that it was part of a plan to mobilize troops by the Kremlin.

The European Union has also been swift in its condemnation of the Kremlin’s plans. Top European diplomat Josep Borrell labeled the referendums as “illegal”.

“This is Russia’s attempt to legitimize its illegal military control and aims to forcibly change Ukraine’s borders in clear violation of the UN Charter and Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity”, declared Borrell in a press release.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who in the past has tried to be a mediator between Russia and the West, harshly criticized the referendum plans. “If the Donbas referendum idea wasn’t so tragic it would be funny,” Macron told reporters, as quoted by France24.

The French President then denounced Russia’s “imperialism” in a speech at the UN General Assembly. “Together we must build peace and a contemporary international order,” Macron stated in his address.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz joined Macron on condemning Putin’s imperialism at the United Nations and requested that Germany become a permanent member, along with the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and France.

“Putin will only give up his war and his imperialist ambitions if he realizes that he cannot win,” the German Chancellor declared at the United Nations, according to DW. “This is why we will not accept a peace dictated by Russia. This is why we will not accept any pretentious referendum.”

Meanwhile, Great Britain’s new Prime Minister Liz Truss used her first time speaking at the United Nations to pledge military and financial support to Ukraine. “We cannot see Russia succeed”, Truss stated, according to Reuters.

“Canada condemns Putin's irresponsible escalation of the war, his partial military mobilization, his nuclear threats, as well as Russia's rushed referendums to try to annex parts of Ukraine are unacceptable,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, per Reuters.

And New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern urged for a “rallying cry from the world” against Russia.

“Sham referendums have no legitimacy,” tweeted NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, describing the Kremlin plans as “an escalation of Putin’s war”.

In his September 20th evening address, the President of Ukraine expressed his gratitude for the united response of the West to condemn Russia’s referendum and military mobilization.

“I thank all the friends and partners of Ukraine for their massive and firm condemnation of Russia's intentions to organize yet more pseudo-referendums,” Zelensky stated, as quoted by France24.