Luhansk and Donetsk governments, which declared their independence in the Donbas region in the east of Ukraine, decided to hold a referendum to join Russia.
The people’s councils of the two regions announced that the referendum will be held between 23-27 September.
The Zaporozhye region administration also announced that a referendum could be held in the near future for the region to join Russia.
EXPLANATION FROM LAVROV
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also made a statement on the subject. “From the very beginning of the special military operation and before that, we said that the peoples should decide their fate, and the current situation confirms that these peoples want to be masters of their own destinies,” Lavrov told Rossiya state channel.
Russia’s attacks on Ukraine continue on the 209th day.
In 2014, Russia illegally annexed Crimea with the events in the square in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. After that, separatists declared governments called Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic in Donetsk and Luhansk regions where the Russian ethnic population is the majority.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the decree on the recognition of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic on February 21 at the Kremlin Palace.
Putin announced that they had launched a “special military operation to protect the people in Donbas” in the early morning hours of February 24. Thus began the Russia-Ukraine war.
USA: WE WILL NOT ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF THE SOLE REFERENDUM
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated that they will not accept any so-called referendum that Russia will hold in Ukraine and that the referendum plan is a reflection of Russia’s “despair”.
Making a statement at the White House daily press briefing, Sullivan stated that Russia could declare total mobilization and noted that this step and a possible referendum are also an indication of how “desperate” Russia is in the war with Ukraine.
“We know that Russia will use a so-called referendum to annex Ukrainian territory. This referendum is against the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, it undermines the international system and the United Nations charter. Let me be clear, if this referendum takes place, the United States will never accept Russia’s claims. won’t.” used the phrase.