The European diplomatic corps summoned the charge d’affaires of the Russian mission to the European Union to convey the “firm rejection” of the illegal annexation of regions of Ukraine after fraudulent referendums, which it will never recognize.
In a statement released this Tuesday, the European External Action Service indicates that its executive director for Russia, Michael Siebert, summoned the Chargé d’Affaires of the Russian Federation mission in Brussels, Kirill Logvinov, on Monday as part of an action coordinated with all EU member states, under which the Russian ambassador in Lisbon was also summoned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the European diplomatic corps, the EU “has transmitted its firm rejection and the most vehement condemnation of the illegal annexation by Russia of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk and Zaporizhia, following the fraudulent ‘referendums’ carried out by Russia in these regions, in violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine”.
“The EU does not and will never recognize this illegal annexation by Russia. These decisions by Russia are null and void and cannot have any legal effect”, the European External Action Service warns once again.
The EU diplomatic corps, headed by High Representative Josep Borrell, “once again urged Russia to reverse this illegal act and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its troops and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine”, recalling “the unwavering support of the EU”. for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders”.
The call by the Chargé d’Affaires of the Russian mission to the EU is part of a coordinated action by the European External Action Service and the 27 member states “in response to the latest escalation of Russian aggression against Ukraine, with the false referendums and the illegitimate annexation of Ukrainian territories last week,” the statement concludes.
Also this Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian ambassador in Lisbon, to whom he conveyed the “firm rejection” and “unequivocal condemnation” of the Portuguese Government to the “illegal” annexation of Ukrainian territories by Russia.
During the meeting, the general director of Foreign Policy, Rui Vinhas, stressed to the Russian ambassador, Mikhail Kamynin, that the “act of annexation is illegal and constitutes a serious violation of International Law, the effects of which Portugal will never recognize,” explained the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign in a statement.
“In addition to the call for the Russian authorities to annul their decision, it was also transmitted to the Russian Federation ambassador in Lisbon that this annexation endangers the international order and the European security architecture,” said the ministry chaired by João Gomes Cravinho.
The Portuguese government also conveyed to the Russian ambassador, at the meeting that took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that “the European Union will adopt additional restrictive measures and will continue to support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.”
Several European Union countries had already called Russian ambassadors over the weekend to deliver this same message.
Russian President Vladimir Putin formalized this Friday in Moscow the annexation of four Ukrainian regions -Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia-, areas partially occupied by Russia in the east and south of Ukraine, after the holding of referendums considered illegal by large part of the international community.
The Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, on Monday ratified the annexation treaties of the Ukrainian regions,
The four regions represent about 15% of Ukraine’s territory, or about 100,000 square kilometers, a little more than the size of countries like Hungary and Portugal or a little less than Bulgaria, according to the Spanish news agency EFE.
The military offensive launched on February 24 by Russia in Ukraine has already caused the flight of more than 13 million people -more than six million internally displaced persons and more than 7.4 million to European countries-, according to the most recent data from the UN, which places this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since the Second World War (1939-1945).
The Russian invasion -justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security- was condemned by the generality of the international community, which has responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and imposing Russia since political and economic point of view. sanctions
Source: TSF
