In a telephone conversation, Truss expressed London’s “firm support” to Kiev in the face of recent Russian-promoted referendums in Ukraine’s military-controlled regions.
Pro-Russian officials in the Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhia, Kherson, Lugansk and Donetsk declared a “yes” victory on Tuesday in referendums organized by Moscow and deemed null and void by Kiev and its Western allies.
The British Ministry of Defense believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intention is to announce the annexation of these territories soon.
According to a spokesman for the British Prime Minister, the two leaders also discussed “how the UK and Ukraine can work together to secure Ukraine’s long-term gas supplies”.
Truss thanked Zelensky for his work leading to the release of five British citizens held by pro-Russian militias in eastern Ukraine last week, thanks to mediation by Saudi Arabia.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also spoke with Zelensky today and said in a statement that “Canada will never recognize the Russian ‘referendum'” and that it “will continue to provide military, humanitarian and financial assistance to the people of Ukraine.” Twitter is a social network.
Trudeau later said in a statement that the referendums in Ukraine’s Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions “lacked legitimacy” and were “a flagrant violation of international law.”
“Canada does not and will never recognize the results of these fraudulent referendums or Russia’s attempt to illegally annex Ukrainian territories,” he said.
BM (APN) // SCA
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