Official Ankara noted that holding so-called referendums is fraught with deepening instability.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) condemned Russia’s intentions to hold pseudo-referendums in the occupied territories of Ukraine, as this would complicate the diplomatic process and threaten to deepen instability.

This is stated in the  statement of the  Turkish Foreign Ministry.

“We are concerned about attempts to hold unilateral referendums in parts of Ukraine under Russian control. Such an illegitimate fait accomplis (complete fact) will not be recognized by the international community. On the contrary, it will prevent the restoration of the diplomatic process and deepen instability,” the statement said.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry also stressed support for the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Ukraine and “reiterated the readiness to make any necessary contribution to the final solution of the current war through peaceful negotiations.”

Until now, Ankara has not commented on Russia’s announcements of pseudo-referendums in the occupied territories of Ukraine, although the day before, the German government, following a meeting between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, claimed that he had condemned them.

As UNIAN reported earlier, the Russian occupiers are planning to hold pseudo-referenda on  September 23-27 on joining the occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions to Russia. This decision has already been condemned by the European Union, NATO, the United States and a number of other countries.

(C)UNIAN 2022