At the United Nations, Zelensky protested against Russia for trying to ‘steal’ Ukrainian territory.
With Russia appearing ready to annex parts of eastern and southern Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine attacked the Kremlin on Tuesday, telling the United Nations Security Council that Moscow was staging the wars. the “fake” referendum in front of the gun as a prelude to stealing a piece of his country.
“This is an attempt to steal another state’s territory,” he said, speaking from a video distance and wearing his signature olive green shirt. He called the referendums a reckless violation of international norms and called on the international community to impose sanctions on Russia. “This is an attempt to undo the rules of international law,” he said.
Mr. Zelensky also repeated his accusations against Russia for using what he called “Nuclear Blackmail” to destabilize the world and reports highlight that Russia is disproportionate targeting of Crimean Tatars and other indigenous peoples in its draft.
Mr Zelensky spoke to the Council as Russian-backed administrators in four regions of Ukraine held a final day of voting that residents complained was full of coercion and intimidation, including armed people. pages at polling stations and pro-Russian propaganda.
The referendums, seen by many as a reason for skepticism for Russia to lay claims to parts of Ukraine, where it has established military control at least in part, have been rejected by countries around the world. condemnation as Russian President Vladimir V. Putin tries to reassert his authority over a chaotic war.
At the Security Council meeting, representatives of countries including the US, UK, Albania, Ireland, Mexico, Kenya and Brazil criticized the referendums as a violation of international law. But efforts to hold Russia accountable at the Security Council have been mostly symbolic; The fact that Russia has a permanent seat on the Council gives it veto power, leaving countries and allies to come up with their own policies to punish Moscow.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Ambassador to the United Nations, urged member states not to recognize the results of the referendums, calling Putin’s strategy part of a “worn play of the past”. Kremlin”.
“The United States will never recognize any territory that Russia tries to occupy or is alleged to annex as any territory other than Ukraine’s,” she said.
Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, accused Ukraine of taking on the political stage during recent UN meetings and of trying to incite anti-Russian sentiment. Mr. Zelensky’s remote addresses, he said, were “PR games”.
