“We firmly reject and unequivocally condemn the illegal annexation by Russia of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. By willfully undermining the rules-based international order and blatantly violating the fundamental rights of Ukraine to independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, core principles as enshrined in the UN Charter and international law, Russia is putting global security at risk,” the statement said.

The statement went on to say: “We do not and will never recognise the illegal 'referenda' that Russia has engineered as a pretext for this further violation of Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, nor their falsified and illegal results. We will never recognise this illegal annexation.

Describing the decisions are null and void and cannot produce any legal effect whatsoever, the bloc noted that “Crimea, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk are Ukraine”.

The bloc also called on all States and international organizations to unequivocally reject this “illegal annexation”. (ILKHA)