Oct 1- The international community responds to Russia's illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory
Reactions & response to Putin's speech and annexation from around the world
The response to Putin's speech & illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory
Yesterday’s illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory via Putin’s sham referenda in the occupied Ukrainian territory in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, and the annexation ceremony triggered indignation and action throughout the international community.
Starting with Ukraine, President Zelensky formally submitted Ukraine’s application to join NATO, allies condemned the annexation, the US cosponsored a resolution against the annextion at the UN Security Council, and new sanctions against Russia and Russians were introduced in the US, UK and Canada. The US and World Bank also approved an aid package to Ukraine.
The following post is by no way complete.
Ukraine application to NATO
Zelensky: “We see who threatens us. Who is ready to kill and maim. Who in order to expand their zone of control does not stop at any savagery. The path of our enemy is…completely clear - defeat, shame and condemnation.”
He also accused Russia of brazenly rewriting history and redrawing borders “using murder, blackmail, mistreatment and lies”, adding that Ukraine would not hold any peace talks with Russia as long as Putin was president.
During his address, which was published after Putin signed decrees formalising Russia’s illegal annexation of four occupied regions in Ukraine, President Zelensky vowed:
“We must liberate our entire land and this will be the best proof that international law and human values cannot be broken by any terrorist state, even one as insolent as Russia.”
Canada, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia has already expressed their support in fast-tracking Ukraine’s accession to NATO.
US reaction: U.S. NatSec Advisor Sullivan said that the U.S. supports an "open-door policy" on joining the military alliance but that “Right now, our view is that the best way for us to support Ukraine is through practical, on-the-ground support in Ukraine and that the process in Brussels should be taken up at a different time.”
Ukraine’s response to the illegal annexations:
Dmytro Kuleba: “By attempting to annex Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, Putin tries to grab territories he doesn’t even physically control on the ground. Nothing changes for Ukraine: we continue liberating our land and our people, restoring our territorial integrity.”
Ukraine sanctions Putin's relatives, more Russian oligarchs after sham referendums. The National Security and Defense Council has imposed new sanctions on over 3,600 individuals and entities. Ukraine's new sanctions list includes Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's children, Russia's military command, officials, artists, and propagandists, as well as Moscow-installed proxies in Donbas and Crimea.
International condemnation
G7 foreign ministers to impose economic costs on Russia for annexation of Ukrainian oblasts. The joint statement said new economic costs will be imposed on those who provide “political or economic support” to Russia’s recent actions.
America and its allies are not going to be intimidated by Putin and his reckless words and threats. He’s not going to scare us or intimidate us. Putin’s actions are a sign he’s struggling, the sham referenda that he carried out and this routine he put on, the sham routine he put on this morning, showing the unity and people holding hands together, well the United States is never going to recognise this and quite frankly the world is not going to recognise it either.
He can’t seize his neighbour’s territory and get away with it, simple as that. And we’re going to stay the course, continue to provide military equipment so that Ukraine can defend itself and its territory and its freedom.
NATO chief, Jens Stoltenberg:
Stoltenberg accused Putin of provoking “the most serious escalation” of the war in Ukraine since it began with his latest actions. Russia’s move was “the largest attempted annexation of European territory by force since the second world war”, adding that Nato reaffirmed its “unwavering support” for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Statement by the Members of the European Council:
We firmly reject and unequivocally condemn the illegal annexation by Russia of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. By wilfully undermining the rules-based international order and blatantly violating the fundamental rights of Ukraine to independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, core principles as enshrined in the UN Charter and international law, Russia is putting global security at risk.
EU Parliament
Emmanuel Macron: “Je condamne fermement l’annexion illégale par la Russie des régions ukrainiennes de Donetsk, Louhansk, Zaporijjia et Kherson. Il s’agit là d’une grave violation du droit international comme de la souveraineté ukrainienne.”
In a phone call to President Zelensky, Italian Prime Minister Draghi “assured him that Italy will not recognize the outcome of the 'referenda' and confirmed the continued support by the Italian government for the authorities and the Ukrainian population in all areas.”
Maia Sandu: I strongly condemn and reject Russia’s attempt to illegally annex occupied regions of Ukraine following sham votes it staged at gunpoint. Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Crimea are Ukraine. Moldova’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remains unfaltering.”
UK, Canada impose sanctions on Russia following its sham ‘referendums,’ annexation attempt. Canada has imposed sanctions on Russian proxies in Ukraine’s occupied territories and 43 Russian oligarchs and their families.
Finland shuts border for Russian tourists. The decision cuts off the last easily accessible route for Russians with Schengen tourist visas into Europe. Earlier this month, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Poland imposed entry restrictions for Russian citizens. Finland cited Russia’s full-scale war, its sham “referendums” in Ukraine, Finland's national security, and the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines as reasons for its decision.
US sanctions against Russia and aid to Ukraine
The United States released new in response to Russia’s annexation of Ukraine territory: sanctions targeting Russian officials, their families and dozens of entities that Washington says are aiding the annexation, a new aid package for Ukraine’s defence.
Sanctions
The US Treasury imposed sanctions on 14 people in Russia’s military-industrial complex, 2 leaders of the country’s central bank, family members of top officials and 278 members of Russia’s legislature.
Among those who have been sanctioned are:
Russian central bank governor, Elvira Nabiullina, who is a former adviser to Russian president Vladimir Putin
Russian deputy prime minister, Alexander Novak
The families of the Russian prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin, and minister of defence, Sergei Shoigu
109 State Duma members
The Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia and 169 of its members
In addition, the US treasury has sanctioned:
14 suppliers, including two international suppliers, “for supporting Russia*s military supply chains”.
57 new entities in Russia and Crimea that the US accuses of aiding the “Russian military’s brutal assault on Ukraine”.
UK sanctions against Russia
Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, announced that the UK is also stepping up sanctions against Russia following the “illegal” annexation of four areas of Ukraine. The measures will restrict Russia’s access to key British commercial and transactional services, as well as ban the export to Russia of almost 700 goods that are critical to manufacturing production.
Canada impose sanctions on Russia following its sham ‘referendums,’ annexation attempt. Canada has imposed sanctions on Russian proxies in Ukraine’s occupied territories and 43 Russian oligarchs and their families.
US aid to Ukraine
President Zelensky thanked President Biden today for signing an additional $12.35 bn (£11 bn) in support for Ukraine. “The law provides the financing of defence programs, as well as powerful direct budget support to Ukraine. This help is more important today than ever. We must continue to jointly oppose the aggression of the Russian Federation!””
The package includes $3 billion for arms, supplies and salaries for Ukraine’s military and authorizes president Biden to direct the Pentagon to transfer $3.7 billion in weapons and other hardware to Ukraine. The allocation brings the total amount of US contribution to $65 billion.
Treasury Secretary Yellen: “This new grant assistance is a further demonstration of US confidence in Ukraine and will support critical government operations and provide relief to Ukrainian people suffering under Russia’s brutal war.”
World Bank is delivering another $530 million in support to Ukraine- the World Bank has authorized $13 billion in assistance during Ukraine invasion.
The United Nations Security Council
The US cosponsored a resolution with Ukraine shortly after Putin announced Russian seizure of Ukrainian territory via illegal Kremlin-organized referendums in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
The resolution condemned the illegal referendums and call on all states not to recognize any changes to Ukraine’s borders. It also called on Russia to withdraw troops immediately from Ukraine.
American ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, opened the meeting: “This is exactly what the Security Council was made to do. Defend sovereignty, protect territorial integrity, promote peace and security. The United Nations was built on an idea that never again would one country be allowed to take another’s territory by force.”
Russian ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, pushed back, saying:
“Do you seriously expect Russia to consider and support such a draft? And if not, then it turns out that you are intentionally pushing us to use the right of the veto in order to then wax lyrical about the fact that Russia abuses this right,” Nebenzia said.
Results: Russia vetoed the resolution. China, India Brazil and Gabon abstained. Please note that China and India have historic defense ties with Russia.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on that the US will turn to the General Assembly.
If Russia blocks the Security Council from carrying out its responsibilities, we’ll ask the UN General Assembly, where every country has a vote, to make clear that it’s unacceptable to redraw borders by force,” Blinken told reporters in Washington.
Every country has a stake in condemning these step.
Yulia Gorbunova on Putin’s speech…
Watching Putin's mad speech, specifically the part about Russia's "great liberation mission," all I can think about is the woman from Kherson I interviewed some weeks ago.
Russia’s security agents detained her entire family and interrogated her for several hours, with a plastic bag over her head – all the while she could hear her husband being beaten to a pulp in the next room.
“They kept asking me, ‘Are you a fascist? A banderovka? I told them that I was Ukrainian. They said: ‘There is no such people. We are one people.’ So, I asked them, 'if we are one people, why am I sitting here with a bag over my head, while you are beating my husband to death?'
What matters…
In the end, Putin can claim whatever he wants, and put on fascist inspired rallies but it’s the Ukrainian Armed Forces that are showing us what really matters: Ukraine is a sovereign nation, and they’ll fight to liberate every centimetre of Ukraine.
Ukraine has encircled Russia’s forces at Lyman. Ukrainian forces have entered the city and the mop up is currently underway.
Russia’s forces at Lyman totalled about 5,000 to 5,500 soldiers, but the number of encircled troops may have fallen because of casualties and some soldiers trying to break out of the encirclement, said Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesperson for Ukraine’s eastern forces, according to Reuters.
“Lyman is important” said Cherevatyi, “because it is the next step towards the liberation of the Ukrainian Donbas. It is an opportunity to go further to Kreminna and Sievierodonetsk, and it is psychologically very important. The possibilities of delivering ammunition to the Russians to the surrounded city or a peaceful exit from the settlement are already blocked. ”
