The choice of the moment probably owes nothing to chance. The announcement of the referendums on the attachment to Russia of the territories it occupies in Ukraine coincided, Tuesday, September 20, with the first debates of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, shifted by one day because of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in the United Kingdom. The hasty decision of the pro-Russian authorities of the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson to organize such consultations between September 23 and 27 has aroused surprise and condemnation, especially among Ukraine’s allies in Europe and the United States. . In these countries, the initiative is seen as a way for Vladimir Putin, absent from the UN debates, to try to regain control, even if it means sparking a new escalation with the West, after weeks of retreat of his troops on the ground in the face of to the counter-offensive of the Ukrainian forces.
Shortly before speaking at the United Nations podium, Emmanuel Macron denounced a “additional provocation” and an “parody of democracy”. For the Head of State, “The very idea of organizing referendums in regions that have experienced war, which have suffered bombardments, where people have had to flee, is the signature of cynicism”. The results of these ballots will not be “not recognised”insofar as the conditions are not “absolutely not fulfilled” to organize them, he judged.
A little later at the podium, Mr. Macron demanded the withdrawal of Russia from these territories and denounced a “return to the age of imperialisms and colonies”. “Today we have a war and it is a war of annexation”, he said. The tone is in unison with that of the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz: “It is very clear that these mock referendums are not acceptable and are not covered by international law”commented on the sidelines of the New York meeting. “All this is only an attempt at imperialist aggression that we want to dress up in this way”added the Chancellor, calling on Russia to withdraw its troops.
“It’s not showing strength, it’s the opposite”
Washington also did not wait for Joe Biden’s speech before the General Assembly on Wednesday, September 21, to strongly denounce the initiative. “The United States will never recognize Russia’s claims to allegedly annexed parts of Ukraine”, said Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser. For him, these referendums testify above all to the recent military failures of the Russian forces, which had to retreat in several regions conquered by arms. “These are not measures that a confident country would take.he noted. It’s not showing strength, it’s the opposite. » “We will continue to work with Ukraine and our international partners to provide it with the support it needs to defend its territory”the Pentagon also said.
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