04:46German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the opening of the annual Peace Dialogue 2022 conference in Berlin on Thursday slammed what she claimed to be 'sham referendum in Donbass'.
"Peace can't be forced with weapons otherwise it is not sustainable. And that is what I had to think about this week when I saw the reports on the sham referendum in Donbass. Under the threat, and sometimes at gunpoint people are being taken out of their home or workplaces to vote in glass ballot boxes. This is the opposite of a free and fair election. And this is the opposite of peace," she said.
The local governments of the DPR and the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR), as well as those established in Kherson and Zaporozhye regions after they came under Russian control, announced last week that voting would take place on September 23-27.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he was ready to support the decisions taken, with Kremlin prepared 'to provide the safe environment' and let the people 'express their will'.
Ukraine and its Western allies have described the voting as a 'sham'. On Friday, Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, described the exercise as a 'propaganda show.'
France and Germany vowed not to recognise the results, while EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell claimed those involved in organising them 'will be held accountable'.
US President Joe Biden said that Russia had 'violated the basic principles of the UN Charter' and also made 'open nuclear threats against Europe.'
Germany: 'Peace can't be forced with weapons' - FM Baerbock slams 'sham referendum in Donbass'
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the opening of the annual Peace Dialogue 2022 conference in Berlin on Thursday slammed what she claimed to be 'sham referendum in Donbass'.
"Peace can't be forced with weapons otherwise it is not sustainable. And that is what I had to think about this week when I saw the reports on the sham referendum in Donbass. Under the threat, and sometimes at gunpoint people are being taken out of their home or workplaces to vote in glass ballot boxes. This is the opposite of a free and fair election. And this is the opposite of peace," she said.
The local governments of the DPR and the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR), as well as those established in Kherson and Zaporozhye regions after they came under Russian control, announced last week that voting would take place on September 23-27.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he was ready to support the decisions taken, with Kremlin prepared 'to provide the safe environment' and let the people 'express their will'.
Ukraine and its Western allies have described the voting as a 'sham'. On Friday, Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, described the exercise as a 'propaganda show.'
France and Germany vowed not to recognise the results, while EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell claimed those involved in organising them 'will be held accountable'.
US President Joe Biden said that Russia had 'violated the basic principles of the UN Charter' and also made 'open nuclear threats against Europe.'
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the opening of the annual Peace Dialogue 2022 conference in Berlin on Thursday slammed what she claimed to be 'sham referendum in Donbass'.
"Peace can't be forced with weapons otherwise it is not sustainable. And that is what I had to think about this week when I saw the reports on the sham referendum in Donbass. Under the threat, and sometimes at gunpoint people are being taken out of their home or workplaces to vote in glass ballot boxes. This is the opposite of a free and fair election. And this is the opposite of peace," she said.
The local governments of the DPR and the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR), as well as those established in Kherson and Zaporozhye regions after they came under Russian control, announced last week that voting would take place on September 23-27.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he was ready to support the decisions taken, with Kremlin prepared 'to provide the safe environment' and let the people 'express their will'.
Ukraine and its Western allies have described the voting as a 'sham'. On Friday, Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, described the exercise as a 'propaganda show.'
France and Germany vowed not to recognise the results, while EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell claimed those involved in organising them 'will be held accountable'.
US President Joe Biden said that Russia had 'violated the basic principles of the UN Charter' and also made 'open nuclear threats against Europe.'