“Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion back in February, the Ukrainian military and the Ukrainian people have resisted admirably. First, Ukraine repelled Russia’s attempt to conquer Kyiv. Then, Ukraine held the line in the Donbas. And most recently, Ukraine undertook a successful counter-offensive in the northeast. It is in this context that President Putin appears to be on the brink of pursuing two actions,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Tuesday.

“First, as we’ve been warning for months, Russia appears to be proceeding with plans to hold sham referenda in areas of Ukraine under its control, and even in areas of Ukraine not currently under its control, in direct violation of Ukraine sovereignty. Russia is rushing to hold these referenda in response to Ukraine’s gains on the battlefield as well as to prepare for potential mobilization measures.”

Sullivan described these referenda as “an affront to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that underpin the international system and let lie at the heart of the United Nations Charter.”

Sullivan said that Washington knows that these referenda will be manipulated and that Russia will use these sham referenda as a basis to purportedly annex these territories either now or in the future.

“Let me be clear: If this does transpire — and, obviously, it’s not a done deal yet — but if this does transpire, the United States will never recognize Russia’s claims to any purportedly annexed parts of Ukraine. And we will never recognize this territory as anything other than a part of Ukraine. We reject Russia’s actions unequivocally. And we will continue to work with our allies and partners to impose costs on Russia and to provide historic support for Ukraine,” Sullivan underlined.

Referring to reports that President Putin may be preparing to enact mobilization measures, Sullivan said: “Like its sham annexation planning, this is reflective of Russia’s struggles in Ukraine.”

“He may be resorting to partial mobilization, forcing even more Rus- — Russians to go fight his brutal war in Ukraine, in part because they simply need more personnel and manpower given the success that Ukraine has had on the battlefield, particularly in the northeast, but even pushing into other parts of previously occupied Russian territory around the country,” he added.

He also emphasized that the United States, its allies and partners in the international community will “stand against these transparent efforts on the part of Russia and stand firmly with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.” (ILKHA)