US blasts Russia over referendums in Ukraine's eastern regions
Iran Press TV
Sun May 11, 2014 1:30PM GMT
The United States has criticized Russia for referendums in Ukraine's eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, saying Washington will not recognize the results.
"We are disappointed that the Russian government has not used its influence to forestall these referenda since President [Vladimir] Putin's suggestion on May 7 that they be postponed," US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said in a statement late Saturday.
"The focus of the international community must now be on supporting the Ukrainian government's consistent efforts to hold a presidential election on May 25," she added.
On Sunday, people in more than 20 towns and cities in the two regions cast the ballots in referendums on breaking away from Ukraine.
The votes come despite a call by President Putin to postpone the vote to create better conditions for talks to resolve the ongoing crisis.
Ukraine's western-backed interim government and its key supporter, the United States, have repeatedly warned that the vote is illegal.
Psaki further said the referendums are 'illegal under Ukrainian law and... an attempt to create further division and disorder."
'If these referenda go forward, they will violate international law and the territorial integrity of Ukraine,' she said. 'The United States will not recognize the results of these illegal referenda.'
Ukraine's acting president Oleksandr Turchynov also warned against the vote.
People 'don't understand that this would be a complete destruction of the economy, social programs and general life for the majority of the population,' he said on Saturday. 'This is a step into the abyss for the regions."
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