Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the UN on Tuesday that an eventual annexation of Ukraine’s territories by Russia, through referendums, would mean “there is nothing to negotiate” with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
In a videoconference statement to the United Nations (UN) Security Council, Zelensky said that Ukrainian voters “were forced to vote at gunpoint” and that the results “were written in advance.”
“The annexation of the territories is the most brutal violation of the Charter of the United Nations,” the Ukrainian leader said.
In the statement, which was opposed by the Russian delegation, the Ukrainian head of state also called for a strengthening of sanctions against Russia, as well as its expulsion from the UN and all international organizations.
Addressing the diplomatic delegations present at the meeting, Zelensky urged Russia to continue isolating itself internationally, first by removing its status as a permanent member of the Security Council with the right to veto, and then by expelling it from all international organizations, and, if that is not possible , that your participation is blocked.
The Security Council meeting was called to address rising tensions resulting from Moscow’s decision to partially mobilize army reservists to support its war efforts in Ukraine and to hold annexation referendums in the Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson.
Following Zelensky’s statement, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, together with the Albanian delegation, introduced a resolution condemning Russia for holding the referendums.
“Russia started this war, and I hope that all members of this Council will do the right thing by upholding international law and the UN Charter, calling on Russia to end it now. Ukraine’s fight is not just a fight for survival, but a fight for democracy and for the same principles that we all hold dear,” the ambassador said.
“That is why we will table a resolution condemning these bogus referendums, calling on member states not to recognize any change in Ukraine’s status, and forcing Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine. Russia’s bogus referendums, if accepted, will open a Pandora’s box that cannot be closed. We ask that you join us in reaffirming our commitment to the UN Charter and meeting this challenge head-on,” Thomas-Greenfield said.
The resolution is expected to be largely symbolic, as Russia will almost certainly veto it, as it has veto power.
However, the US ambassador stressed that she would try to take the vote to the UN General Assembly if Russia “chooses to shield itself from liability.”
The pro-Russian authorities in the Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhia, Kherson and Lugansk today proclaimed a “yes” victory to the Russian annexation, and the results of the fourth Ukrainian region occupied by the Russian Federation are still awaited.
According to the electoral authorities installed by Russia in the four regions, 93.11% of the citizens of Zaporizhia voted in favor of annexation to Russia, after counting 100% of the ballots.
In the Kherson region, the Moscow administration reported that 87.05% of voters voted “yes” to annexation, and all votes were also counted.
Shortly after, the Lugansk authorities also announced the victory of the “yes”, while the count continues in the fourth Ukrainian region where a “referendum” was also held, Donbass (east), despite the fact that the authorities had already announced that “Yes has largely prevailed.”
In the past, in 2014, Russia had already used the result of a referendum held under military occupation to legitimize the annexation of the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea.
Source: TSF
