Photo: Mikhail Verny
A senior US government official told reporters on Friday that Washington does not recognize the annexation of the “territories of Ukraine” to Russia.
In addition, he stressed that the United States will not allow the upcoming referendums in Donbass “to pass indisputably.”
“We will respond quickly and harshly,” the official said, adding that according to US intelligence, referendums on joining Russia are being prepared to be held in Kherson, Zaporozhye, as well as in the DPR and LPR.
According to him, the United States will not consider any such referendums “fair and honest.”
He also said that these referendums would complicate the diplomatic settlement between Russia and Ukraine.