[ad_1]
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 (PTI) — The United States has called plans to hold votes in Russian-controlled eastern and southern regions of Ukraine to become an integral part of Russia a “hoax” and an “offensive to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
National Security Adviser Jack Sullivan claimed on Tuesday that “these referendums are going to be rigged” and claimed the United States would never recognize Russia’s claims over any allegedly annexed parts of Ukraine.
Also read | Pakistan gets second batch of six J-10C fighter jets from China: report.
“These referendums are an affront to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that underlie the international system and are at the heart of the UN Charter,” Sullivan told reporters at a news conference at the White House. “We know these referendums will be rigged. Russia will use these bogus referendums as the basis for an alleged current or future annexation of these territories,” he said.
Sullivan said the U.S. has been warning Russia for months of plans to “hold sham referendums in areas of Ukraine under its control, even in areas of the country that are not currently under its control, a direct violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty.”
Also read | Chicago Blast: Six injured in South Austin building explosion (watch video).
The Biden administration’s national security adviser said Russia was eager to hold these referendums in response to Ukraine’s victory on the battlefield and to prepare for possible mobilization measures.
“We will never recognize this territory as part of Ukraine. We unequivocally reject Russian actions. We will continue to work with our allies and partners to make Russia pay.”
Sullivan said the United States is aware of reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be preparing mobilization measures. “Like its fake annexation plan, this reflects Russia’s struggle in Ukraine.”
“He (Putin) may resort to partial mobilization to force more Russians into his brutal war in Ukraine, partly because given Ukraine’s success on the battlefield, especially in the Northeast, they need more manpower and manpower,” he said.
Sullivan asserted that Russia was giving “three days’ notice to the fake referendum as they continue to lose ground on the battlefield and more and more world leaders distance themselves from Russia on the public stage”.
“The United States and our allies in the international community will oppose these Russian transparency efforts and stand firmly with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people,” he said.
Sullivan told reporters that the United States is supplying Ukraine with weapons systems, including weapons worth more than $600 million announced just last week, and it believes it needs to be able to successfully prosecute the offensives.
“Having said that, no one will be satisfied with Ukraine’s recent successes. The Ukrainian military is preparing to consolidate what has been achieved, continue to work towards further gains, and defend against possible Russian counterattacks everywhere.”
“The United States and all our allies and partners are providing them with the support necessary to enable them to carry out these efforts on the battlefield,” he asserted.
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from the Syndicated News feed, the body of the content may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
[ad_2]
Source link