BRUSSELS - "It is further proof that
Putin is not interested in peace but in an escalation
. His announcements are also a clear signal that he is only interested in continuing this destructive war, it is a clear signal of despair" and it is something "that it will also have negative consequences on the Russian population ".
This was underlined by the
spokesman of the EU External Action Service Peter Stano
, commenting on Vladimir Putin's speech in the daily briefing in Brussels.
"He has not decided to attack only Ukraine but the entire international community," he added.
Also during the briefing, to a question on the risk of proliferation of pro-Russia parties with the upcoming elections in some European countries, the
spokesman of the EU Commission Eric Mamer
, replied: "The EU is a Union of democratic states and the Member States, in full respect of the values written in the Treaties, are in charge of organizing their democratic life. The Commission will never intervene in their democratic life. But we will do everything we can to give correct information to European citizens on challenges we are facing in this situation as a result of the Russian invasion ".
"We will never recognize the results of the so-called referendums organized in the territories illegally and brutally occupied by Russia. Any attempt to change Ukraine's internationally recognized borders goes against the UN Charter," added Mamer.