Russia annexation
Israel rejects annexation as US sanctions Russia, threatens any who back land grab
G7 may punish countries that back Moscow’s claims on Ukrainian regions, Washington warns; EU vows to ‘never recognize’ move; Italian far-right leader slams ‘neo-imperialist’ Putin.
Israel joined a wide chorus rejecting Russia’s annexation of four occupied regions of Ukraine Friday, reiterating its full support for Kyiv’s sovereignty.
In a statement issued shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed treaties to incorporate the partially occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia into the Russian Federation, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said it would not recognize the move.
“Israel supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, we won’t recognize the annexation of the four areas by Russia. Israel has repeated this clear position many times, including in recent days,” the ministry’s official statement read.
Other countries also slammed Moscow over the move, which has been derided as illegal and is based on referendums held last week widely condemned as a farce.
The United States announced “severe” new sanctions on Russia in response to what President Joe Biden called Moscow’s “fraudulent” claim to have annexed the areas.
“The United States is imposing swift and severe costs on Russia,” the White House said in a statement. It also announced that G7 allies support imposing “costs” on any country that backs the Kremlin’s attempt to incorporate the Ukrainian regions.
.In a statement, Biden said “the United States condemns Russia’s fraudulent attempt today to annex sovereign Ukrainian territory. Russia is violating international law, trampling on the United Nations Charter, and showing its contempt for peaceful nations everywhere.”
“The United States will always honor Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders. We will continue to support Ukraine’s efforts to regain control of its territory by strengthening its hand militarily and diplomatically, including through the $1.1 billion in additional security assistance the United States announced this week,” he continued.
The Biden administration said the sanctions will target scores of Russian parliament members, government officials, family members, and also industries supplying the Russian military, “including international suppliers.”
In a warning to the small number of countries potentially willing to recognize Russia’s self-declared sovereignty over the four invaded regions, the administration said the G7 — Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States — had agreed to punish any such support.
“We are also issuing a clear warning supported by G7 leaders: We will hold to account any individual, entity, or country that provides political or economic support for Russia’s illegal attempts to change the status of Ukrainian territory,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
TANIKO Madagascar 