US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken vowed on Tuesday that the West would never recognize Russia’s annexation of Ukraine after Kremlin-appointed authorities began claiming success in referendums organized in Moscow-controlled areas.
“We and many other countries have spoken very clearly. We do not recognize – in fact we will never recognize – Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territory,” Blinken told reporters.
Blinken echoed President Joe Biden’s threat that the United States would “impose quick and additional costs on Russia” as the referendum proceeded.
“It is important to remember what is happening here. Russia invaded Ukraine and seized lands and is engaged in a diabolical scheme in some of the lands that it has seized and expelled its inhabitants,” he said.
He added that some people are being deported, while others “just disappear.”
“Then they transfer Russian citizens there, install subordinate governments, organize a referendum and manipulate its result in any way to claim that the territories are part of Russia,” he said.
