U.S. Calls Russia's Referenda Attempts in Ukraine 'Sign Of Weakness' And 'Sign Of Failure'

Washington on Tuesday called the planned referendums in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine an "incredibly crass and desperate move" by Russia's Vladimir Putin, TURAN's U.S. correspondent reports.

"We've seen reports that Russia is now considering proceeding with these sham referenda in Ukraine, something we said that they were going to do for many months," Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters.

Kremlin-backed separatists in the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson announced they will hold votes this week on joining Russia. The State Department has warned for months of sham referendums that Putin would use to justify seizing Ukrainian territory.

For Blinken, "that would then lead to them claiming the annexation of Ukrainian territory," adding that if the referenda proceeds, the United States will never recognize the outcome.

"The sham referenda and the potential mobilization of additional forces isn't a sign of strength. On the contrary, it's a sign of weakness, it's a sign of Russian failure," America's top diplomat added.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.