Annexation

2022 - 9 - 30

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Reaction to Putin proclaiming annexation of Ukrainian lands (Reuters)

Sept 30 (Reuters) - U.S. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN. "The United States condemns Russia's fraudulent attempt today to annex sovereign Ukrainian territory.

We will never recognise this illegal annexation." "We are taking our decisive step by signing Ukraine's application for accelerated accession to NATO." The United States will always honor Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders." "The United States condemns Russia’s fraudulent attempt today to annex sovereign Ukrainian territory. "The UK will never ignore the sovereign will of those people and we will never accept the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia as anything other than Ukrainian territory." "We condemn the illegal annexation in the strongest terms."

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Putin's annexation speech: more angry taxi driver than head of state (The Guardian)

Russian leader's rambling speech focuses on western sins and leaves key Ukraine questions unanswered.

Again, those in Moscow are no better informed than the rest of us. But annexation involves more than pieces of paper, and while in 2014 Russia had just carried out a swift and stealthy military operation to seize Crimea, this time things are far less clear-cut. Today, he offered an angrier but less coherent denunciation of the west, more angry taxi driver than head of state. Instead, Putin railed at the west for a litany of sins, ranging from destabilising Russia in the 17th century to allowing gender reassignment surgery. The improvements in quality of life that the first years of Putinism brought are drying up amid sanctions and international isolation. This time, the domestic and international situations are far less favourable for Putin.

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Putin announces Russian annexation of four Ukrainian regions (Aljazeera.com)

The move has been condemned by Ukraine and Western countries and represents major escalation in seven-month war.

“And how does Russia respond?” Therefore, we are ready for a dialogue with Russia, but with another president of Russia,” Zelenskyy said. “We will rally the international community to both denounce these moves and to hold Russia accountable. In his speech, Putin said Russia would defend its new territory with all the means at its disposal. “Clearly, with this Russian president, it is impossible. Western governments and Kyiv have dismissed the hastily organised votes as breaching international law, and charge they were coercive and wholly unrepresentative.

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Image courtesy of "GOV.UK"

Sanctions in response to Putin's illegal annexation of Ukrainian ... (GOV.UK)

Russia imports 67% of its services from sanctioning countries. Building on previous action, the UK will prevent Russian access to: IT consultancy services ...

This will prevent those Russian actions from taking legal effect in the UK and potentially providing economic benefit to the Russian state. It also prevents funds or economic resources being provided to or for the benefit of the designated person The export of almost 700 goods from the UK to Russia are also being banned. The UK is also working with international partners to cut off Russia from our engineering services and architectural services. We will never recognise the results of these sham referendums or any annexation of Ukrainian territory. In her role, Nabiullina has been instrumental in steering the Russian economy through the Russian regime’s illegal war against Ukraine and extending the ruble into the Ukrainian territories that are temporarily controlled by Russia.

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Image courtesy of "Vanguard"

Russia announces annexation of four regions of Ukraine (Vanguard)

President of Russia, Vladimir Putin is currently attending the formal ceremony of the annexation of the four Ukrainian regions in Moscow.

“I order the recognition of the state sovereignty and independence,” Putin said on Thursday. Putin has announced that the four Russian-occupied regions – Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia will officially become part of the Russian Federation today. President of Russia, Vladimir Putin is currently attending the formal ceremony of the annexation of the four Ukrainian regions in Moscow.

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Image courtesy of "Daily Sabah"

Putin announces annexation of Ukrainian territory amid criticism (Daily Sabah)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday presided over a ceremony at the Kremlin to announce the annexation of four Ukrainian regions partly occupied by.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

What Russian annexation means for Ukraine's regions (BBC News)

How will Russia annex four occupied regions it does not fully control, while in the middle of a war?

Ukraine's leader has dismissed the nuclear threat as a "constant narrative of Russian officials and propagandists". Before the February invasion, Russia recognised the entirety of the two eastern regions as independent "people's republics" and now Moscow will define them as Russian territory. Nobody really knows what is now in the Russian leader's mindset, but his anti-Western rhetoric has reached a new level. He knows, however, that he will have to persuade every member state to agree, and Turkey for one is unlikely to. However, he said Russia would treat all of the Donetsk region as part of Russia. But he can also threaten the West if it continues to arm Ukraine with missiles used against what he has labelled Russian territory.

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Image courtesy of "The Economist"

What is annexation? (The Economist)

Vladimir Putin is staking a false claim to sovereign Ukrainian territory | The Economist explains.

By contrast the annexations of the Syrian Golan Heights by Israel in 1981 and of Western Sahara by Morocco in 1976 and 1979 remain unrecognised and are considered illegal occupations. That same tactic could be used elsewhere in future: Russian troops already occupy parts of Georgia and (If a territory gives up control to another, that is called cession.) Russia claims that the four Ukrainian territories it is annexing have acceded to Russian control, as demonstrated by the results of the sham referendums. India justified its annexation of Goa in 1961 as the return of historically Indian territory from Portuguese colonial rule, and the UN recognised India’s claims almost immediately. An annexation is legitimised when it is recognised by other countries and by international bodies such as the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund. [Sham referendums](/europe/2022/09/27/vladimir-putin-stages-four-fake-referendums-in-occupied-ukrainehttps:/www.economist.com/europe/2022/09/27/vladimir-putin-stages-four-fake-referendums-in-occupied-ukraine) had been conducted at gunpoint there, with little pretence of legitimacy.

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Image courtesy of "Human Rights Watch"

Fictitious Annexation Follows 'Voting' at Gunpoint (Human Rights Watch)

Vladimir Putin has just signed a document claiming to annex four Russia-occupied Ukrainian territories in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions ...

[in Crimea](https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/11/17/crimea-human-rights-decline) in 2014, they hold no legal value and don’t provide a basis for annexation or transfer of sovereignty. [Russia](https://www.hrw.org/europe/central-asia/russia) remains an occupying power in these regions bound by the Fourth Geneva Convention, which continues to protect civilians in those areas. I will have to tick a box for Russia, or they might tear down my house.” [claims](https://ria.ru/20220927/referendum-1819941990.html) people overwhelmingly “voted” to join Russia. My uncle said that I have to open the door when they come, or the neighbors might report [me]. Days before, Russia purported to hold “referendums” in these areas, with hastily staged “voting,” in some cases at gunpoint.

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

US announces 'severe' Russia sanctions over annexation in Ukraine (Aljazeera.com)

Joe Biden accuses Moscow of 'trampling on the United Nations Charter' as US targets hundreds in new sanctions package.

[Vladimir Putin announced](/news/2022/9/30/putin-announces-russian-annexation-of-four-ukrainian-regions) that Russia would absorb the partially occupied Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia. “We are taking our decisive step by signing Ukraine’s application for accelerated accession to NATO,” he said in a Telegram post. But Biden has repeatedly warned Putin that the US will defend NATO countries if they are attacked by Russia – a pledge he reiterated on Friday. So, Mr Putin, don’t misunderstand what I’m saying, every inch,” Biden said. Biden said he is looking forward to signing the measure into law. Biden said Washington will rally the international community to denounce Russia’s annexation and hold Moscow accountable.

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Image courtesy of "TIME"

Putin's Annexation Has 'No Legitimacy,' Biden Says, as US Issues ... (TIME)

The US issued new sanctioned after Putin signed treaties absorbing occupied regions of Ukraine, in defiance of international law.

[Where All The Strongest Hurricanes Have Hit the U.S. [Wants to Paint the World Out of a Corner](https://time.com/6217676/oliver-jeffers-meanwhile-back-on-earth/?utm_source=roundup&utm_campaign=20220928) “The Treasury Department and U.S. in the Past 50 Years](https://time.com/6218275/strongest-hurricanes-us-map/?utm_source=roundup&utm_campaign=20220928) [2022 Time100 NEXT:](https://time.com/collection/time100-next-2022/?utm_source=roundup&utm_campaign=20220928)TIME’s List Of Emerging Leaders Who Are Shaping the Future The U.S. The Treasury Department named hundreds of members of Russia’s legislature, leaders of the country’s financial and military infrastructure and suppliers for sanctions designations.

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Image courtesy of "Axios"

Biden admin slaps new sanctions on Russia after annexation (Axios)

The new sanctions have been imposed on hundreds of Russian government officials and their family members.

[mysterious leaks](https://www.axios.com/2022/09/27/nord-stream-gas-pipeline-leak-sabotage) in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines detected earlier this week the result of deliberate sabotage and warned that such attacks would be met with a collective response from the organization. [staged referendums](https://www.axios.com/2022/09/28/russia-ukraine-referendum-sham-results-putin-un) in the regions that were widely condemned by Western governments as a "sham." Why it matters: The expected annexation will dramatically raise the stakes in the occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson as Putin could attempt to portray any attack in the areas as an attack on Russia itself. [Russia to annex four occupied regions of Ukraine on Friday](/2022/09/29/putin-russia-annex-donetsk-luhansk-zaporizhzhia-kherson) - "We will continue the United States' powerful, coordinated efforts to hold Russia to account, cut Russia’s military off from global commerce and severely limit its ability to sustain its aggression and project power," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. [laying claim to four regions](https://www.axios.com/2022/09/30/putin-claims-annexation-four-ukrainian-oblasts) in Ukraine, which Russia only partly controls.

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Image courtesy of "TVP World"

EU, Netherlands: we do not recognise annexation of Ukrainian regions (TVP World)

European Council President Charles Michel condemned Russia's annexation of four regions of Ukraine in a video message on Friday, saying the EU would never ...

“The world will not accept [Russian President Vladimir] Putin pushing recognised borders with a stroke of the pen. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the Netherlands will not accept Russia's annexation of Ukrainian regions, announced by President Vladimir Putin on Friday. The European Union unequivocally rejects and condemns these illegal annexations,” Mr Michel said.

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Extracts from Putin's speech at annexation ceremony (Reuters)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday presided over a ceremony at the Kremlin to annex four Ukrainian regions partly occupied by his forces.

This is contrary to the very nature of man, truth, freedom and justice." "Do we really want, here, in our country, in Russia, instead of 'mum' and 'dad', to have 'parent No. ... We have a different future, our own future." "The dictatorship of the Western elites is directed against all societies, including the peoples of the Western countries themselves. For the sake of land and resources they hunted people like animals. "The West ... But we will not discuss the choice of the people in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. "I want the Kyiv authorities and their real masters in the West to hear me, so that they remember this. It is clear to everyone who benefits from this." This tore apart and dismembered our nation, becoming a national catastrophe ... "We are ready for this ... People living in Luhansk and Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are becoming our citizens.

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

US imposing 'swift and severe costs' on Russia following Putin's ... (CNN)

The US is imposing what it describes as "swift and severe costs" on Russia, including sanctions on a figure the Biden administration says is key to Russia's ...

In addition, Blinken announced the State Department is imposing visa restrictions “on 910 individuals, including members of the Russian Federation military, Belarusian military officials, and Russia’s proxies for violating Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence.” US officials view the central bank’s efforts as primarily providing surface-based cover for an economy that is in the midst of major atrophy across multiple critical sectors. US officials grudgingly acknowledge that Nabiullina has done an effective job managing Russia through this initial phase of the sanctions, just as she did in 2014 after Putin’s Crimea annexation triggered a much less severe round of sanctions from the West. US officials and their allies have closely monitored real-time Russian efforts to circumvent sanctions already in place to curtail access to critical components for the defense industry, and many of the new targets come from that effort. “The United States condemns Russia’s fraudulent attempt today to annex sovereign Ukrainian territory. The response marks an escalation and expansion of the most sweeping sanctions regime ever to target a major economy, one that has been steadily ramped up throughout the more than seven months since Russia’s invasion.

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Image courtesy of "ABC News"

Russian President Vladimir Putin announces the annexation of four ... (ABC News)

President Vladimir Putin says four occupied areas of Ukraine will be amalgamated into Russia following a series of local referendums Kyiv and the West have ...

They then all clasped hands and chanted "Russia! Russia!" "We are ready for this ... Both houses of the Kremlin-controlled Russian parliament will meet next week to rubber-stamp the treaties for the regions to join Russia, to be sent to Mr Putin for his final approval. But we will not discuss the choice of the people [in annexed regions]," Mr Putin said. During a video message, the Ukrainian leader also said Kyiv remained committed to the idea of co-existence with Russia "on equal, honest, dignified and fair conditions", but that it was unlikely while Mr Putin remained. He added that the West had broken its promises to Russia and had no moral right to talk about democracy, and countries of the West were acting as the imperialist states they had "always been". He accused the United States and its allies of waging a "hybrid war" against Russia and the separatist administrations Russia backed in eastern Ukraine. He accused Kyiv of threatening people who took part in the referendums with "repression" and warned "Kyiv should respect the will of the people", alluding to his repeated threats to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia's "territorial integrity". - Mr Putin announced the annexation of four Ukrainian territories in front of hundreds of dignitaries in the Kremlin "This is the will of millions of people," he said in front of hundreds of dignitaries at the ornate St George's Hall. Mr Putin said the people living in the annexed regions were now Russian compatriots "forever".

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

West condemns Russia's 'illegal' annexation of Ukraine provinces (Aljazeera.com)

Below is a round-up of international reaction to Putin's move. INTERACTIVE Which Ukrainian regions is Russia annexing-. Ukraine. Ukraine said its troops would ...

The United States will always honour Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders,” President Joe Biden said, adding that his country would “rally the international community to both denounce these moves and to hold Russia accountable”. “Putin has mobilised hundreds of thousands of more troops, engaged in irresponsible nuclear sabre rattling and now illegally annexed more Ukrainian territory. “The illegal annexation proclaimed by Putin won’t change anything. 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. The council said Russia had “engineered” the outcome of the vote held in the occupied provinces and had used its doctored results “as a pretext for this further violation of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity”. “We firmly reject and unequivocally condemn the illegal annexation by Russia of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions,” the members of the European Council said in a statement.

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Image courtesy of "Internatinal Centre For Investigative Reporting"

Putin signs agreement on Russia's annexation of four Ukrainian ... (Internatinal Centre For Investigative Reporting)

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin on Friday presided over a signing ceremony to incorporate four occupied Ukrainian regions..

“All the approaches and logistic routes of the enemy, through which they delivered ammunition and manpower, are in fact under fire control of the Ukrainian army,” said Serhii Cherevatyi, a spokesperson for Ukrainian troops in the east. UN’s secretary general António Guterres had warned Russia that annexing Ukrainian regions would mark a “dangerous escalation” that would jeopardise the prospects for peace in the region, and would have no legal value. Ukraine, the United States and the head of the United Nations have all said the annexation ceremony had no legal value, with Kyiv describing it as a “Kremlin freak show.”

The real world impact of Russia's annexation of Ukrainian regions (WJCT NEWS)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally annexed four regions of Ukraine. Ukraine responded by submitting an application to quickly ascend into NATO.

That is NPR's Jason Beaubien talking to us from the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv. But he believed that if he stayed and Kherson became part of Russia, he would get drafted into the Russian army and be forced to fight against his fellow Ukrainians. And he decided that he had to get out of Kherson. And part of what's crazy here is that this is one of the main reasons Putin cited initially as his reason for invading Ukraine was to stop NATO from expanding. And Kherson is one of the Russian-occupied regions that was just officially annexed. And Zelenskyy went on to say that Ukraine is willing to enter negotiations with Russia, but not with Putin.

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Image courtesy of "Voice of America"

FLASHPOINT UKRAINE: What Impact will Putin's Annexation of ... (Voice of America)

Russian President Vladimir Putin annexed four additional Ukrainian regions Friday. It's a move that Ukraine said it will never accept and goes against the ...

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Defiant Putin proclaims Ukrainian annexation as military setback ... (Reuters)

A defiant Vladimir Putin proclaimed Russia's annexation of a swathe of Ukraine in a pomp-filled Kremlin ceremony, promising Moscow would triumph in its ...

"We have significant results in the east of our country ... General Assembly to condemn the declared annexation and referendums. [15% of Ukraine](https://tmsnrt.rs/3y5PJcy) - the biggest annexation in Europe since World War Two - was roundly rejected by Ukraine and Western countries as illegal. Moscow blamed the Ukrainians. 24, but said he would not succeed in deterring the alliance from supporting Kyiv. Therefore, we are ready for a dialogue with Russia, but with another president of Russia," Zelenskiy said. Russia!" "They have made a choice to be with their people, their motherland, to live with its fate, and to triumph with it. The annexation ceremony culminated in Putin, 69, chanting "Russia! Russia is with us!" [run the annexed regions](/world/europe/russia-unfolds-annexation-plan-ukraine-2022-09-20/). "Clearly, with this Russian president it is impossible.

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Image courtesy of "The Independent Barents Observer"

Arkhangelsk wanted to celebrate annexation of Ukrainian lands. But ... (The Independent Barents Observer)

It was to be seen as a powerful show of support for Russian patriotism and military onslaught on Ukraine. But the concert that took place on the square in ...

“You can always count on Arkhangelsk Oblast,” Governor Tsybulsky underlined to the admiral. But we are not afraid of them because Russia is a great country,” Deputy Speaker in the local city Duma Rim Kalimullin in an But more is needed, the Northern Fleet commander made clear. It was to be seen as a powerful show of support for Russian patriotism and military onslaught on Ukraine. A downtown support concert for the so-called referendums in Ukraine assembled only a few handfuls of people. ADVERTISEMENT

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Image courtesy of "Council of Europe"

Council of Europe leaders condemn the illegal annexation of ... (Council of Europe)

Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, Simon Coveney, the President of the Parliamentary ...

We once again call for an immediate end to the conflict and for peace to return to Europe.” Our commitment to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders remains unequivocal and unwavering. The forcible change of international borders at the expense of another sovereign state, and the so-called “referenda” that preceded it, constitute a grave breach of international law and cannot be recognized.

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Image courtesy of "UN News"

Russia vetoes Security Council resolution condemning attempted ... (UN News)

Russia on Friday vetoed a Security Council resolution which described its attempts to unlawfully annex four regions of Ukraine earlier in the day with a ...

They Nord Steam 1 and 2 pipelines have been at the centre of the European energy supply crisis stemming from Russia’s February invasion, and neither are in operation pumping gas to European nations at this time. “The residents of these regions do not want to return to Ukraine. “The Charter is clear”, said the UN chief. Any use of the veto by any of the Council's five permanent members triggers a meeting. He said there had been “overwhelming” support from residents in the four regions that Russia now claims. Four members abstained, Brazil, China, Gabon and India.

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Russia vetoes UN resolution on Ukraine annexation, China abstains (Aljazeera.com)

Resolution called for condemnation of 'illegal' referendums in Ukraine and for states to not recognise border changes.

“Over seven months into the Ukraine crisis, the crisis and its spillover effects have had a wide range of negative impacts. [@AJEnglish]after Russia's veto in the UN Security Council of a draft resolution condemning annexation votes held in parts of occupied Ukraine. Following the Security Council vote, and the abstentions, some will be asking whether it’s possible to reach the high water mark again,” he said. China is deeply concerned about this prospect,” the ambassador said in a statement. [@UKUN_NewYork]'s [@BWoodward_UN]told [@baysontheroad]the issue will go to the General Assembly next week. “Not a single country voted with Russia.

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Image courtesy of "Business Insider"

China, India abstain on condemning Russia's annexation of Ukraine ... (Business Insider)

China and India on Friday abstained from voting on a United Nations resolution condemning Russia for claiming it had annexed parts of Ukraine. Russian President ...

The following day, [Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the war](https://www.businessinsider.com/modi-criticizes-russia-war-in-ukraine-to-putin-face-2022-9) during a face-to-face meeting with Putin. We want all of this to end as soon as possible." But the UN vote came only weeks after Putin acknowledged his counterparts in both countries expressed concerns about the war. [Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-allies-china-india-pushed-putin-escalate-ukraine-war-experts-2022-9) that pressure from Xi and Modi — and a fear of losing them as partners — may have partly motivated Putin's recent [escalation of the war](https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-speech-partial-military-mobilization-draft-reservists-ukraine-war-2022-9) by mobilizing troops and threatening nuclear action. [meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Uzbekistan](https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-says-even-china-concerned-about-ukraine-russia-war-isolates-2022-9) on September 15, Putin acknowledged Xi had "questions and concerns" regarding the war. [powerful partners of Russia](https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-snubbed-by-india-china-turkey-ahead-of-ukraine-escalation-2022-9) during the war, declining to institute sanctions as the West has done.

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Image courtesy of "Greek Reporter"

Greece Condemns Russia's Annexation of Eastern Ukraine (Greek Reporter)

Greece “will never recognize the illegal annexation of Ukraine's territories,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted on Friday. The premier added ...

Follow GR on [Google News ](https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqLQgKIidDQklTRndnTWFoTUtFV2R5WldWcmNtVndiM0owWlhJdVkyOXRLQUFQAQ)and [subscribe here ](https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=Greekreporter)to our daily email! [latest news](https://greekreporter.com/greek-news) from Greece and the world at [Greekreporter.com](https://greekreporter.com). "America is fully prepared with our NATO allies to defend every single inch of NATO territory, every single inch. The referendums were condemned as illegal by the West and legal experts. “The results are known, well known,” he says. He claimed that the people of the four Ukrainian regions he’s planning to annex have made their decision after the so-called referendums.

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Image courtesy of "Al Arabiya English"

Turkey rejects Russian annexation of Ukraine provinces, says ... (Al Arabiya English)

Turkey on Saturday said Russia's annexation of four Ukrainian provinces was a “grave violation” of international law and called for negotiations to end the.

[World News](/News/world) [US slaps ‘severe’ sanctions on Russia after Putin annexes Ukrainian regions](https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2022/09/30/US-slaps-additional-sanctions-on-Russia-following-Putin-annexation-move) [AlArabiya](/) [Russia Ukraine conflict](/tools/kickers?kicker=Russia Ukraine conflict)

The real world impact of Russia's annexation of Ukrainian regions (NPR)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally annexed four regions of Ukraine. Ukraine responded by submitting an application to quickly ascend into NATO.

That is NPR's Jason Beaubien talking to us from the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. But he believed that if he stayed and Kherson became part of Russia, he would get drafted into the Russian army and be forced to fight against his fellow Ukrainians. And part of what's crazy here is that this is one of the main reasons Putin cited initially as his reason for invading Ukraine was to stop NATO from expanding. And he decided that he had to get out of Kherson. Putin again today - he warned that that would be met with the full force of Russia's military, which we all know includes nuclear weapons. And Kherson is one of the Russian-occupied regions that was just officially annexed. CHANG: Well, can I ask, like, what is the real-world impact of these so-called annexations by Russia? And Zelenskyy went on to say that Ukraine is willing to enter negotiations with Russia, but not with Putin. Putin, in his address, said he's ready to negotiate with Ukraine, but not about the four territories he just annexed, saying that those will be part of Russia forever. Russian President Vladimir Putin today formally made four regions of Ukraine that are currently occupied by his troops territories of the Russian Federation. Like, what's been his response to this declaration by Russia that they're annexing - what?

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Image courtesy of "Haaretz"

Israel rejects Russian annexation of Ukraine territory as Putin ... (Haaretz)

U.S. President Joe Biden Warns That New American Sanctions Would Target Those Who Provided Political or Economic Support to the Annexation Drive; ...

and its allies have promised even more sanctions on Russia and billions of dollars in extra support for Ukraine as the Kremlin duplicates the annexation playbook used for Crimea. George’s Hall of the palace in Moscow that is Putin's seat of power. “The enemy rages and seeks revenge for our steadfastness and his failures,” he posted on his Telegram channel. The Kremlin paved the way for the land-grabs with “referendums,” sometimes at gunpoint, that Ukraine and Western powers universally dismissed as rigged shams. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow would view a Ukrainian attack on the taken territory as an act of aggression against Russia itself. The southern Kherson region and part of the neighboring Zaporizhzhia were captured by Russia soon after Putin sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. The separatist Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine have been backed by Moscow since declaring independence in 2014, weeks after the annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula. Asked about Russia’s plans, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that at the very least Moscow aims to “liberate” the entire Donetsk region. And we don’t pay attention to those whose time to take pills has come," Andrii Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian president's office, said. But he warned that Russia would never give up the absorbed regions and would protect them as part of its sovereign territory. Putin attacked the West's liberalism, saying that, unlike Russia, it had turned away from "traditional" and "religious" values. Following the declaration, the United States announced it is imposing additional sanctions on hundreds of Russian individuals and companies, and President Biden condmned Russias 'fraudulent attempt today to annex soverign Ukranian territory'

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