As Putin Attempts to Illegally Annex Ukrainian Territories, Ernst Pushes to Prevent U.S. Acknowledgement of Russian Landgrabs

WASHINGTON – As Putin prepares to claim success in his sham and illegitimate elections to annex four Ukrainian territories, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is pushing to prevent any recognition by the United States of Russia’s claim of sovereignty over Ukraine.

Last week, the illegitimate governments in four Russian-controlled territories in eastern and southern Ukraine announced referendums to become part of Russia. The elections have been widely denounced as a sham across the international community. On Friday, the Kremlin plans to announce the “successful” accession of these territories.

“No kind of Putin propaganda can change what the world knows. His claims over Ukraine are illegitimate and hostile,” said Ernst. “Despite the Kremlin’s attempts to save face internationally, the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine and recognize these ‘referendums’ for what they really are: desperate and illegitimate landgrabs by a failing regime.”

Ernst joined her colleagues, led by Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), in introducing the Non-Recognition of Russian Annexation of Ukrainian Territory Act, which requires U.S. policy to not recognize any Russian claim of sovereignty over any portion of the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine and prohibit any federal department or agency from taking any action or extending any assistance that implies recognition of Russian claims over Ukraine.

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