While Russia’s intervention in Ukraine continued, the United States claimed that Russia was planning to annex some of Ukraine’s lands, using the methods used in Crimea in 2014.
SIGNED SEPTEMBER
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby claimed that Russia had begun to lay the groundwork for annexation.
Basing his claim on US intelligence, Kirby said in September that a “fake” referendum on joining Russia could be held in the regions occupied by Russia in Ukraine.
“Preparing to Re-enforce 2014’s Screenplay”
“We want to make it clear to the American people,” Kirby said. Don’t think they are fooling anyone. “Russian leader Vladimir Putin is preparing to re-enact the 2014 scenario,” he said.
Accusing Russia of illegally bringing pro-Russian people to the administration of the lands it occupied in Ukraine, Kirby claimed that these people were tasked with preparing the referendum that would pave the way for Russia’s annexation.
Kirby argued that the results of the referendum would be used as a justification for the independent Ukrainian territories to join Russia.
8 YEARS AGO, CRIMEA WAS ANNEXED
Russia annexed Crimea 8 years ago after a referendum.
Russia has appointed its own regional and local administrators on the territory of Ukraine, which it currently occupies.
In the referendum held in Crimea in 2014 and not recognized by the international community, the people voted to join Russia, and then Russia annexed Crimea.
It is predicted that a referendum to be held in the occupied regions of Ukraine will likely produce a similar result.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Russia had deciphered its plans so that “the world would see that any attempted annexation was premeditated, illegal and illegitimate”.
Indicating that the regions Russia plans to invade also include Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, Kirby promised that the USA and its allies would react quickly in such a case.