Putin once again warned Ukraine and the world: ignoring the results of the fake «referendums» in the occupied regions could bring the country back to armed conflict
In a clear demonstration of his uncompromising stance regarding the Ukrainian occupied territories, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a new statement that, according to him, could serve as a catalyst for the resumption of armed confrontation. In interviews with Sky News Arabia and RBC, he expressed the opinion that refusing to recognize the results of the so-called «referendums» of 2022 in the «DNR», «LNR», Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions is not just about ignoring a fact, but creating a serious threat to the long-term stability of the region. A source close to the Kremlin leadership reports that Putin’s words are supported by the assertion that ignoring the outcomes of these dubious votes could return Ukraine to new escalation phases of the conflict, triggering another stage of armed confrontation. He advocates the idea that the key to stability in the region is a «neutral status of Ukraine» — without the possibility of joining NATO, possessing nuclear weapons, or forming military alliances that enhance its security potential. Putin does not hide his intentions or hopes: he expresses a desire for Ukrainian leaders to be guided solely by national interests, rather than external pressure or ideological sympathies. «I hope that Ukraine’s current political leaders will be able to move beyond external influence and act in the interests of their own people,» he stated. At the same time, the Russian president emphasizes that Ukrainian society deserves a better future than to become an object of tools for foreign interests in conspiracies against its country. It should be recalled that in September 2022, the occupiers carried out the so-called «referendums» that were nothing more than a large-scale provocation. During the five-day voting from September 23 to 27, voters supported joining Russia, with the self-proclaimed authorities claiming that between 87% and 99% supported «reunification». As a result, Putin signed an decree incorporating the territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia into Russia, effectively declaring them «Russian». Thus, he announced that residents of these regions are citizens of the Russian Federation and, according to him, «made their choice» — to become part of the Russian state. Living signatures and Putin’s signed decrees marked the final stage of annexation, serving as the formal basis for the fraudulent «mergers» and political manipulation. At that time, Kyiv and the international community condemned these actions as illegal, condemned Russian aggression, and emphasized the inadmissibility of legitimizing such referendums, which were conducted under shellfire and under strong occupier pressure. Now, this story is once again on the agenda, as Moscow insists: recognizing the results is a form of legitimacy, without which conflict escalation is possible. Therefore, the official Kremlin position remains unchanged — any dismissal of votes and «referendums» in courts and political circles will provoke «a worsening of the situation», or even a new wave of armed hostilities. Overall, it should be emphasized that these events and statements fit into a broader scheme of instrumentalizing history and international law to achieve Russia’s own imperial objectives. While the world community continues to emphasize the necessity of adhering to international norms and condemns territorial annexation by force, Russia still pursues destructive actions and moral and political games, playing long-term tension and instability in the region. It is known that there are no signs of Moscow planning to return to diplomatic approaches at this time. On the contrary, its rhetoric is built on the idea that any attempts to recognize these «referendums» or to disregard their results only increase the likelihood of new conflicts and a rift between Ukraine and Russia, which will most likely lead to deepening the war and even greater destruction of already battered Ukrainian territories. Thus, the situation remains tense, and the international community calls for maximum adherence to legality and diplomatic solutions, emphasizing the need to consider truth and international principles of peace and security. At the same time, Moscow shows an intention to ignore these calls, supported by statements that could further complicate the situation and trigger a new wave of military actions in the near future.