UK insists it will not recognise Russian sham referendums in occupied territories of Ukraine
On the second anniversary of the sham referendums organised by Russia in the occupied southern and eastern territories of Ukraine, the UK has stressed that it does not recognise the results of these "referendums".
The UK recalled that two years ago, Russia blatantly violated the UN Charter and tried to "legalise" annexation of the occupied territories of Ukraine's east and south through sham referendums, just as it did in Crimea in 2014.
"The UK's position is clear: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea are Ukraine," the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said.
Two years ago, Russia breached the UN Charter by orchestrating another illegal "annexation" of Ukraine’s sovereign territory, just as it did in Crimea in 2014.
The UK's position is clear: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea are Ukraine.#StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/gDKDoUQdS7Advertisement:– Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) September 30, 2024
On the night of 30 September 2022, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin signed decrees on the "recognition of independence" of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, which Russia partially occupied. After that, Russia vetoed a resolution condemning the sham referendums in the UN Security Council.
A little over a month after that, the Russians were driven out from the right bank of Kherson Oblast.
The EU prepared another package of sanctions against Russia in response to the annexation.