The European Union has announced that it strongly condemns the holding of Russian regional and local elections on Ukrainian territory, stating that they represent another act of violation of international law and cannot produce any legal effects.
On the occasion of the regional and local elections that Russia organized from September 6 to 8 in a number of areas, including the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea annexed by Moscow in 2014 and its largest city Sevastopol, EU spokesman Peter Stano stated that Brussels "strongly condemns the holding of Russia's so-called 'elections' on Ukrainian territory".
"They represent another act of violation of international law, the UN Charter and the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The EU does not recognize these so-called 'elections' or their results in Crimea. They are null and void and cannot produce any legal effects. The leadership of Russia and they who are responsible for organizing these illegal actions will be called to account and will face the consequences," Stano said.
In a written statement, published on the website of the European External Affairs Service (EEAS), Stano stated that the EU, more than a decade after the Russian invasion and attempted illegal annexation of Crimea, reiterates its position that Crimea is Ukraine.
"Referring to the Resolution of the UN General Assembly of March 27, 2014, we call on Russia to stop activities that undermine the national unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine. There is one clear way out of this war: for Russia to immediately end its illegal, unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine and to withdraw all forces and military equipment from the territory of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders," added Stano.
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