Photo: Michail Verny
Senior US government official He told reporters on Friday that Washington does not recognize the annexation of “the territory of Ukraine” to Russia.
In addition, he stressed that the United States will not allow the upcoming referendums in Donbas to “pass uncontested.”
“We will respond quickly and harshly,” the official said, adding that according to US intelligence, referendums on joining Russia are being prepared in Kherson, Zaporozhye, as well as in the DPR and LPR.
The United States, he said, would not consider any such referendums for “just and fair”.
He also said that the referendum would complicate a diplomatic settlement between Russia and Ukraine.