French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said that the referendums organized by Russia in occupied Ukraine are “a fraud”.
She said a new round of European sanctions against Russia would come “in the coming days” in response to the vote.
Colonna dismissed the description of the vote as an “election,” as she asked, “How do you expect people to express themselves freely under pressure and in territories occupied by a foreign power?
“There is no sincerity in the votes that can be cast,” she said and called for a clear response from the international community.
The votes remain, “without legitimacy, without value, we will not recognize them”, she said, adding that they will lead to further sanctions from France, the European Union and other international allies.
Otherwise, Ukraine has continued even today with counter-offensives against the Russian invading troops.