U.S. And Allies Say Will 'Never Recognize' Russia’s Referendums In Ukraine

President Joe Biden on Friday said the United States will 'never recognize' Russia’s sham referendums in occupied parts of Ukraine.

“The United States will never recognize Ukrainian territory as anything other than part of Ukraine. Russia’s referenda are a sham — a false pretext to try to annex parts of Ukraine by force in flagrant violation of international law, including the United Nations Charter,” Biden said in a statement, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

Four Russian-occupied areas began voting Friday in referendums on joining Russia, according to their separatist leaders, in a move that raises the stakes of Moscow’s invasion.

The White House said it was prepared to impose additional sanctions on Russia: “We are prepared to impose additional swift and severe economic costs on Russia along with our allies and partners in response to these actions if they move forward with annexation” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.

Biden in his statement reiterated that the United States "stands with our partners around the world — and with every nation that respects the core tenets of the UN charter — in rejecting whatever fabricated outcomes Russia will announce.”

The leaders of the G7 nations have also published a statement condemning the referendums in Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine.

"These actions clearly breach the United Nations Charter and international law and go diametrically against the rule of law among nations... These referenda in areas that have been forcibly put under Russia’s temporary control in no way represent a legitimate expression of the will of the Ukrainian people, who have consistently resisted Russian efforts to change borders by force." reads the statement.  "We will never recognise these referenda which appear to be a step toward Russian annexation and we will never recognise a purported annexation if it occurs.

In addition, the leaders noted they "call upon all countries to unequivocally reject these sham referenda as Russia’s attempt to give false cover to its violations of international law."

"We stand ready to impose further economic costs on Russia, and on individuals and entities – inside and outside of Russia –providing political or economic support for Russia’s illegal attempts to change the status of Ukrainian territory," the statement said.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.