UN Secretary-General Condemns Russia's Attempt to Annex Occupied Territories: "No Legal Effect"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] United Nations Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres strongly criticized the Russian government's forced referendums in the occupied territories of Ukraine, stating that they have no legal effect. Despite international criticism, Russia intends to proceed with the treaty signing ceremony for annexation.

On the 29th (local time), Secretary-General Guterres said at a press conference held at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA, "Russia's decision to annex the occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson in Ukraine through referendums has no legal effect and deserves condemnation," emphasizing, "This must never be tolerated. The annexation of another country's territory by force or threat violates the UN Charter and international law."

Earlier, the Russian government announced that the treaty signing ceremony for the annexation of the occupied territories in Ukraine would be held on the 30th, drawing international condemnation. Secretary-General Guterres also strongly condemned the treaty signing, calling it "an act that escalates the crisis and cannot be tolerated in the modern international community."

Previously, on the 27th, the Russian Election Commission concluded referendums in the four southeastern regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, occupied by Russian forces, asking residents whether to join Russia. The vote counting results announced that the annexation proposal was approved with overwhelming support ranging from 87% to 99% by region.

Immediately after the Russian government's announcement of the referendum results, Ukraine, the United States, and Western countries criticized the vote as a sham. Despite the announcement of overwhelming support for annexation to Russia, criticisms arose that the voting process itself was coercive, including the use of transparent ballot boxes that made the process clearly visible.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.