NATO says it will never recognize Russia’s “sham” referendums in Ukraine

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO on Thursday condemned Moscow’s plans to carry referendums in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine and referred to as on all states to reject what it referred to as “Russia’s blatant makes an attempt at territorial conquest”.

“Sham referenda within the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson areas of Ukraine haven’t any legitimacy and might be a blatant violation of the UN Constitution,” the North Atlantic Council, grouping the member states of the alliance, mentioned in an announcement.

“NATO allies won’t acknowledge their unlawful and illegitimate annexation. These lands are Ukraine,” it added.

Referendums on becoming a member of Russia are resulting from happen from Friday till Tuesday in a number of largely Russian-held areas in jap and southern Ukraine, which comprise round 15% of the nation’s territory.

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold and Bart Meijer)