EU condemns Russia's sham elections as assault on Ukraine and democracy

At a plenary session of the European Parliament, EU foreign and security policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned the elections held by Russia in the occupied parts of Ukraine, describing them as a sham that disrespects Ukraine, the Russian people and democratic principles. She noted that President Vladimir Putin prevented OSCE monitors from observing the vote and dismissed any independent verification of the results. According to Kallas, the elections were used to fabricate a narrative that regions such as Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are now Russian territory.

The EU is preparing sanctions targeting those who organized the polls and Russian candidates standing in the occupied zones. Kallas added that the Russian government is curtailing independent media, civil organisations and human-rights defenders while planning record-level military spending and further militarisation of its political system.