White House Slams Russian 'Sham Elections' In Occupied Parts Of Ukraine

Washington D.C./07.09.23/Turan:  The White House on Wednesday slammed the Kremlin's plans to hold sham elections this week in the occupied areas of Ukraine, saying that the U.S. "will never, never recognize Russian claims to any of Ukraine’s territory," as National Security Council's John Kirby put it, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

"The Kremlin hopes that these elections will demonstrate its control over these occupied territories, but this is nothing more than propaganda," Kirby told reporters at the State Department's Washington Foreign Press Center, adding that the U.S. believes the outcome of the sham elections will be predetermined and manipulated.

"We have information that the Russian Government will fabricate voting results across the occupied areas," Kirby said.

Moscow is reportedly planning to hold "local elections" in the occupied areas of Ukraine on September 8-10 – in parallel with the elections in Russia. So-called "voting" has already begun in Mariupol and parts of Zaporizhia Oblast.

According to Kirby, some within the Russian Government are concerned about the perceived legitimacy in voter turnout for the elections in the occupied areas.

"These so-called elections inside Ukrainian territory are, again, just an illegitimate sham and an affront to the principles enshrined in the UN Charter... including on sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said.

Kirby went on to add, "The Ukrainian people are fighting to expel Russian forces from their territory. The vast majority of the world is united in supporting them in doing so. Last year, 143 countries voted at the UN to condemn Russia’s purported annexation of sovereign Ukrainian territory."

Kirby also reiterated Washington's position on Russia’s continued occupation and ongoing attacks against the people of Ukraine, saying that Moscow is "trying to take by force — that which is not, nor has never been theirs — Ukrainian territory."

When asked by TURAN about Russia's latest missile attacks on Kyiv just hours before Secretary Blinken’s arrival in Ukraine's capital, Kirby said, "It just shows the continued barbarity of Mr. Putin and Russian military forces that they continue to bombard the capital city"

He concluded:   "We continue to see Russian forces try to break the will of the Ukrainian people and deliberately target – Kyiv is a good example – civilian infrastructure, energy infrastructure, schools, hospitals, residential buildings. It’s all a part of an effort by Mr. Putin to try to break their will. And it hasn’t succeeded, and we have absolutely zero reason to think that it will."

Alex Raufoglu