The European Union (EU) on Tuesday strongly condemned Russia’s “new attempt” to legitimize the “temporary and illegal” annexation of Ukrainian territories after Moscow scheduled the March 2024 presidential elections involving the regions taken from Ukraine.
“The EU strongly condemns this new attempt by Russia to legitimize the temporary and illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories. The so-called ‘elections’ are a gross violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, emphasized in a statement.
“Russia has no legitimate basis for carrying out such an action on the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine”Borrell added, recalling that the Central Election Commission of Russia decided on Monday to organize the presidential elections from March 15 to 17, 2024 also in the “territories of Ukraine that Russia temporarily occupied in flagrant violation of international law.”
According to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EU “will never recognize the holding of the so-called Russian ‘elections’” or its results on the territory of Ukraine.
“Russian political leaders and those involved in their organizations will face the consequences of these illegal actions. The EU reaffirms its continued support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and its inherent right to self-defense.”added
Crimea, Kherson, Zaporijia, Donetsk and Luhansk, Borrell emphasized, “are an integral part of Ukraine,” and therefore Russia must “immediately, completely and unconditionally” withdraw all its troops and military equipment from “the entire territory of Ukraine within his country”. internationally recognized borders”.
“The European Union will continue to provide Ukraine with strong financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to counter Russian aggression”that started on February 24, 2022, Borrell concluded.
Source: DN
