In a significant move, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a proclamation on Friday recognizing the “independence” of two Ukrainian regions. President Vladimir Putin has signed the declaration of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson’s “independence.” Russia has also stated that any attack on these areas would be viewed as an attack on Russia itself.
“I decree the recognition of Zaporizhia and Kherson’s state sovereignty and independence in southern Ukraine,” Russian President Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying. According to reports, these two districts, along with the separatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, will be integrated into Russia.
The territories would be officially recognized during a ceremony on Friday. This follows a “sham referendum,” as the West refers to it. Russia declared that it had earned a majority in the poll. Russia started its invasion of Ukraine in February, and Donetsk and Luhansk were quickly declared “independent.”.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that any acquisition of a country’s territory by another country as a consequence of a “threat or use of force” is illegal. According to the UN Secretary-General, it is a violation of the UN Charter and international law.
In this hour of crisis, I must emphasize my responsibility as Secretary-General to protect the @UNCharter. The charter is unambiguous. Any acquisition of a state’s territory by another state as a consequence of the threat or use of force is a breach of the Charter’s Principles and international law “Guterres issued a tweet.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also stated that Russia’s takeover of Ukrainian lands violates international law. The United States, referring to it as a “land grab,” has stated that it will never be recognized as such. “The Kremlin’s bogus referendums are a failed attempt to conceal what amounts to a new land grab in Ukraine,” Blinken said in a statement.
“A signing ceremony on the inclusion of the new territories into Russia will take place tomorrow at 15:00 [1200 GMT] in the Georgian Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace,” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.
US imposed sanctions
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the US sanctioned over 1,000 Russian individuals and organizations. This decision came after Russian President Vladimir Putin proclaimed the annexation of four Ukrainian areas at a ceremony on Friday. This included the governor of Russia’s central bank as well as the families of National Security Council members. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said, “We will not stand by while Putin tries to stealthily take over parts of Ukraine.”.
Putin announced the annexation at the Kremlin’s St. George’s Hall on Friday, in front of hundreds of guests, saying, “This is the will of millions of people.” Putin’s Ukrainian counterpart stated that Putin must be stopped if Russia is to avoid the worst repercussions of the war.
The annexation of Russian-occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia by Russia has been highly criticized in the West. According to the Associated Press, a humanitarian convoy of cars carrying Ukrainian civilians was targeted by a Russian missile attack on Friday near Zaporizhzhia, killing 23 people and injuring 28 others.
In a Thursday evening address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised a robust response to the annexations and invited his defense and security leaders to an emergency meeting on Friday where “important choices” will be made, according to an official.
Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, has also warned against Putin’s plan, calling it a “dangerous escalation” that would hurt chances for peace.
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