30.7 C
Accra
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
WorldLavrov says any annexed regions in Ukraine would have Russia's 'full protection'

Date:

Lavrov says any annexed regions in Ukraine would have Russia’s ‘full protection’

Vladimir Putin’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has said the four Russian-occupied regions in Ukraine where referendums are under way would be under Moscow’s “full protection” if they are annexed by Russia.

Voting is taking place until Tuesday in the eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south on whether they should join Russia.

Mr Lavrov was speaking in a news conference after addressing the United Nations General Assembly.

Asked if Russia would have grounds for using nuclear weapons to defend annexed regions of Ukraine, Mr Lavrov said Russian territory, including territory “further enshrined” in Russia’s constitution in the future, “is under the full protection of the state”.

“All of the laws, doctrines, concepts and strategies of the Russian Federation apply to all of its territory,” he said, also referring specifically to Russia’s doctrine on the use of nuclear weapons.

Ukraine and western nations have said they will not recognise the results of the votes.

Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said Russia’s statements on the possible use of nuclear weapons were “absolutely unacceptable” and Kyiv would not give into them.

“We call on all nuclear powers to speak out now and make it clear to Russia that such rhetoric puts the world at risk and will not be tolerated,” Mr Kuleba said.

Ukraine has requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting over the referendums, accusing Russia of violating the UN Charter by attempting to change Ukraine’s borders, foreign affairs ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said on Twitter.

 

 

Source: Sky News

[forminator_poll id="710479"]

Latest stories

Young Don, Twene Jonas ‘trade blows’ over US citizenship

US-based Ghanaian social commentator Young Don has hit back...

Patrice Motsepe retains seat as CAF President

South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe has secured another term...

“Liar, Judas!” – Shatta Wale fires at Amin Adam over betting tax comments

The recent parliamentary discussions on the 2025 budget have...

Free sanitary pads initiative to spur growth of Ghana’s private sector – Trade Minister

Minister for Trade and Agro Business, Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, has...

Medical staff face trial over football legend Maradona’s death

The long-awaited trial of the medical team that cared...

GOLDBOD is a cover-up for corruption, mismanagement – Amin Adam

Former Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam has criticized...

NPP gov’t collected GHC80m from 10% betting tax – Ato Forson

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has refuted claims...

Related stories