EU condemns Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions

The 27 leaders of the European Union Member States have condemned the illegal annexation by Russia of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin today.

In their joint statement, they stressed that by wilfully undermining the rules-based international order “Russia is putting global security at risk”.

“We do not and will never recognise the illegal ‘referenda’ that Russia has engineered as a pretext for this further violation of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, nor their falsified and illegal results,” say EU leaders. “We will never recognise this illegal annexation. These decisions are null and void and cannot produce any legal effect whatsoever. Crimea, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk are Ukraine. We call on all States and international organisations to unequivocally reject this illegal annexation.”

They added that the EU will strengthen its restrictive measures countering Russia’s illegal actions to further increase pressure on Russia to end its war of aggression.

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Press release