Blinken Has a Warning for Russia

Mr. Blinken in Washington said the referenda supported by Russia in Ukraine, whose results are being used by Moscow to justify the annexation of Ukrainian territory, were an attempt to plunder land that is illegal and violate international law.

The Kremlin's false “Referendums are a futile attempt to disguise what constitutes a further attempt at land robbery in Ukraine”, Mr. Blinken said in a statement.

“To be clear: results were orchestrated in Moscow and do not reflect the will of the Ukrainian people”, he added.

While UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres praised whether Russia puts its plans for annexation into existence it would mark a dangerous “escalation” that would jeopardise prospects for peace in the region.

Any decision to proceed with the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhja of Ukraine would have no legal value and deserved to be punished,” Secretary General Antonio Guterres told reporters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will sign documents announcing the annexation of four Ukraine regions from Russia on Friday, while Moscow is rushing to block territorial advancements that the Ukrainian Army is reaching on the battlefield.

The decision, one of the legal steps Russia says will lead to the formal annexation of 15% of Ukraine's territory, confirms that Mr. Putin is continuing the fight against Ukraine, despite a major military change this month as a result of the Ukrainian forces' counteroffensive.

The decision will extend dramatic impacts on the global economy, especially in developing countries, and will hinder our ability to provide life-saving assistance throughout Ukraine and beyond”, Mr. Guterres said further.