Reactions after Putin signed the annexation documents. USA sanctions Russia again

The first reactions appeared after Vladimir Putin signed the annexation documents of Ukraine’s territories to Russia. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that “the illegal annexation proclaimed by Putin will not change anything”.

USA sanctions Russia again

The United States has announced that it is imposing new “harsh” sanctions on Russia and condemning the “fraudulent” annexations of territories in Ukraine.

Washington announces, in this harsh warning, that it is sanctioning – together with the other G7 members, “any country, individual or entity” that will provide political or economic support to Russia’s attempts to “illegally” seize territories in Ukraine.

Ursula von der Leyen: Illegally occupied territories are Ukrainian land

“The illegal annexation proclaimed by Putin will not change anything. All the territories illegally occupied by the Russian invaders are Ukrainian land and will always be part of this sovereign state”, said the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

European Council: We do not and will not recognize the illegal “referendum”.

“We strongly reject and unequivocally condemn Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. By willfully undermining the rules-based international order and flagrantly violating Ukraine’s fundamental rights to independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, core principles as enshrined in the UN Charter and international law, Russia endangers global security.

We do not and will not recognize the illegal “referendum” that Russia supported as a pretext for this violation of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, nor their falsified and illegal results. We will never recognize this illegal annexation. These decisions are null and void and cannot produce any legal effect. Crimea, Kherson, Zaporozhye, Donetsk and Luhansk are Ukraine. We also call on all states and international organizations to unequivocally reject this illegal annexation.

In the face of Russia’s war of aggression, as well as Moscow’s latest escalation, the European Union stands resolutely with Ukraine and its people. We are unwavering in our support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Ukraine exercises its legitimate right to defend itself against Russian aggression to regain full control of its territory and has the right to liberate occupied territories within its internationally recognized borders. The Kremlin’s nuclear threats, military mobilization and strategy of trying to falsely present Ukrainian territory as Russian and pretend that the war could now take place on Russian soil will not shake our resolve.

We will strengthen our restrictive measures to counter Russia’s illegal actions. They will further increase the pressure on Russia to end its war of aggression.

We reiterate that the European Union is firmly with Ukraine and will continue to provide Ukraine with strong economic, military, social and financial support as long as it is needed,” the European Council said.

Giorgia Meloni: “The declaration of annexation has no value”

Italy’s far-right leader Giorgia Meloni said Russia’s declaration of annexation of territories in Ukraine has no value.

“The Russian Federation’s declaration of annexation of four regions of Ukraine, after fake referendums held during a violent military occupation, has no legal or political value,” said Giorgia Meloni, who could become Italy’s first female prime minister.

“(Russian President Vladimir) Putin has once again shown his Soviet-style neo-imperialist vision that threatens the entire European continent. This latest violation of the rules of coexistence between nations by Russia confirms the need for firmness and unity of Western democracies,” she added.

Reactions from Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has talked about applying for NATO membership in an accelerated manner, has actually invited the alliance to a direct military conflict with Russia, says the head of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Leonid Slutsky.

“Zelensky’s statement about Ukraine’s attempt to join NATO in an accelerated manner sounds like an invitation to the alliance to enter into a direct military conflict with Russia. That is, to confront the main nuclear powers”, said the deputy, quoted by LIFE.ru.