After wild Putin speech: West reacts to annexation of Ukrainian territories – “brutal expansionism”

Created: 09/30/2022, 22:09

By: Christina Denk

Vladimir Putin has announced the annexation of four Ukrainian regions.

The West described the move as "illegal" and "land grabbing".

Ukraine itself also took action.

Moscow - "We are establishing four new subjects in the Russian Federation" - this was announced by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin on Friday (September 30) to applause in Moscow.

He thus officially annexed the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson.

Internationally, the referendums on which Putin bases the annexation are not recognized.

Just hours after Putin's wild speech, the West reacted with sanctions and clear messages to Russia.

Annexation of Ukrainian territories: USA tighten sanctions - also against the armaments sector

US Secretary of State Blinken made it clear in Washington on Friday that the annexation had "no validity, no legitimacy".

“The territory belongs to Ukraine.

It will always be part of Ukraine.

We will never accept the alleged annexation of this territory,” he stressed.

That also means that Ukraine has every right to defend its territory and the people there in the Ukraine war - and to reconquer territories, Blinken said of the use of Western weapons in the annexed regions.

US President Joe Biden pledged continued military support to Ukraine.

"The United States and its allies will not be intimidated by Putin and his reckless words and threats," said the US President.

In addition, the US tightened its sanctions against Russia in view of the "fraudulent and illegal annexation".

Among other things, they are to meet Russian politicians, government officials and members of the military as well as the Russian armaments sector.

Vladimir Putin announced in Moscow the annexation of four Ukrainian regions.

The West reacted promptly.

© Grigory Sysoyev/Pool Sputnik Kremlin/AP/dpa

After Russian annexation: Stoltenberg speaks of "land grabbing", G7 of "brutal expansionism"

Similar words came from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

He dismissed this "land grab" as "illegal and unlawful."

"The NATO allies do not recognize any of these areas as part of Russia and will not do so in the future," said the Norwegian in Brussels on Friday.

At the same time, he described the step as "the most serious escalation since the beginning of the war." It shows that "the war is not going according to plan for him [Putin]." Even the partial mobilization was classified by experts as a sign of weakness.

The G7 states saw the move as a "new low point in Russia's blatant disregard for international law".

Russia's "brutal expansionism" and Moscow's moves to deny Ukraine's existence as an independent state must be rejected.

The international community, which Germany currently chairs, clearly supported Ukraine.

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"Our value is the love of people": Putin announces Ukraine annexation in wild speech

Individual European states also independently condemned the annexation of the Ukrainian territories.

The countries also consistently rejected Russia's accusation that the West was responsible for the gas leaks at Nord Stream 1 and 2.

Russia names the United States as the prime suspect.

Ukraine reacts to Russia's annexation: NATO application in fast-track procedure

Volodymyr Zelenskyy himself reacted to the annexation with a NATO announcement.

"We are taking a decisive step by signing Ukraine's application for accelerated NATO accession," Zelenskyi said on Friday in a video shared minutes after the signing ceremony in the Kremlin.

At the same time, Zelenskyy rejected Putin's appeal to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war.

Ukraine will only start negotiations with Russia when there is a "new president".

Secretary General Stoltenberg reacted openly to joining NATO.

The door to NATO is open to Ukraine.

The current focus is on direct support for Ukraine.

Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock reacted cautiously.