LIVE COVERAGE
Russia's War in Ukraine Updates: Zelensky Pursues NATO Application
Latest coverage as Russian President Vladimir Putin announces that Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia will be incorporated into the Russian Federation.
Last Updated:
Sep. 30, 2022 at 7:06 PM EDT
Putin Moves to Incorporate Four Ukrainian Regions Into Russian Federation
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday moved to absorb into Russia four regions of eastern and southern Ukraine, in a steep escalation of the conflict between the two nations. The Biden administration imposed new sanctions against Russian officials in response.
The claimed annexations were predicated on the results of referendums that Kyiv and the West dismissed as a sham. The four regions, all at least partially occupied by Russian forces, together form a swath of land extending from Luhansk in the east through Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia to the Black Sea coast of Kherson. Their seizure would create a land bridge between the Russian mainland and Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.
Russia: After Mr. Putin's announcement, the Russian government held a celebration outside the Kremlin walls, with loudspeakers blaring patriotic Russian rap, and electronic billboards displaying fighting in Ukraine.
Ukraine: At least 25 civilians were killed in a Russian missile attack in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian officials said. Meanwhile, in another of the regions targeted for annexation, Ukrainian forces came close to encircling Lyman, a strategic town located in Donetsk.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said the country would apply for membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization through an expedited process.
U.S.: President Biden condemned the annexations, while his administration imposed new sanctions on Russian lawmakers, top government and military officials and defense procurement companies.
Markets: The Russian ruble fell 5.5% against the dollar in the wake of Mr. Putin's move.
Live coverage of the annexation and its fallout continues here.
Latest Updates
Sep. 30, 2022 at 11:06 PM
Sep. 30, 2022 at 8:39 PM
National security adviser Jake Sullivan faced questions about Russia's plan to annex four regions of Ukraine at a White House press briefing Friday (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Russia's sham referenda in Ukraine and its subsequent annexation of four territories was a page straight out of Russian President Vladimir Putin's playbook, a senior White House official said Friday.
“The sham referenda were held at gunpoint, Ukrainian civilians were forced to cast ballots through coercion, intimidation and in some cases under the watch of armed guards,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters. “Saying that it somehow reflects the will of the people is an absurdity.”
Echoing the positions of President Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and others, Mr. Sullivan said the annexation was a violation of international law and had no legitimacy.
Sep. 30, 2022 at 7:10 PM
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. and its allies have a plan to help with Ukraine’s defense in the future. (jim lo scalzo/Shutterstock)
Secretary of State Antony Blinken rebuffed a request by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accelerate Kyiv’s bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, as Russian President Vladimir Putin moved to annex Ukrainian territory.
Mr. Blinken told reporters that the U.S. and its allies have a plan to help with Ukraine’s defense in the future, but on the question of NATO membership, he backed the alliance’s traditional process for adding prospective members, including Finland and Sweden, which are expected to join NATO soon after a lengthy period working with the alliance.
The top U.S. diplomat declined to discuss specific weapon systems that Ukraine needs.
In addition to U.S. sanctions imposed Friday, Mr. Blinken pledged to continue punishing “any individual, entity or country that provides political or economic support for President Putin’s illegal attempts to change the status of Ukrainian territory.”
Updated Sep. 30, 2022 at 6:45 PM
'The United States is never going to recognize this,' President Biden said of the annexation. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Biden condemned Russia’s move to annex four regions of eastern and southern Ukraine, calling the effort fraudulent and illegitimate.
“He’s not going to scare us,” Mr. Biden said of Russian President Vladimir Putin in remarks Friday at the White House.
Pointing to the annexation, Mr. Biden said: “The United States is never going to recognize this.”
He also called a series of leaks on the Nord Stream pipelines between Russia and Europe “a deliberate act of sabotage,” adding: “Now the Russians are pumping out disinformation and lies.”
He didn't say who he believes is responsible for the alleged sabotage. The president said he is working with NATO allies to investigate the incident and protect critical infrastructure.
Earlier Friday, Mr. Biden said the U.S. would continue to honor Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and would support its efforts to regain control of its territory through security and diplomatic assistance.
Mr. Biden touted new sanctions the U.S. is announcing on Friday.
“We will rally the international community to both denounce these moves and to hold Russia accountable,” Mr. Biden said. “I urge all members of the international community to reject Russia’s illegal attempts at annexation and to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes.’
Updated Sep. 30, 2022 at 6:33 PM
President Volodymyr Zelensky led a meeting of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council. (Associated Press)
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that Ukraine would apply for membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization through an expedited process.
“We are de facto allies. This has already been achieved,” he said. “Today, Ukraine is applying to make it de jure.”
Mr. Zelensky also rejected Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territory in a video address on Friday afternoon. And he met with his top military and security leaders to discuss ways of countering Russia’s supposed annexation, the Ukrainian president’s office said.
“The entire territory of our country will be liberated from this enemy—the enemy not only of Ukraine, but also of life itself, humanity, law and truth,” he said.
Ukraine originally applied to join NATO in 2008, expressing an aspiration that the country has since enshrined in its constitution. The alliance issued a vague declaration that year that both Ukraine and Georgia would eventually become members, leaving the country's application in limbo.
In his statement on Friday, Mr. Zelensky pointed to Finland and Sweden’s applications to join NATO earlier this year in reaction to the Russian invasion.
“We know it's possible. We have seen Finland and Sweden start accession to the Alliance this year without a Membership Action Plan,” he said.
“This is fair. This is also fair for Ukraine,” he also said.
All member countries must approve any new members of NATO. Finland and Sweden are currently waiting for the parliaments of all 30 current members to approve their application.
Turkey initially threatened to veto Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership before agreeing to accept the two Nordic countries into the alliance in a pact in June.
Ukraine has separately proposed a set of international security guarantees similar to NATO's mutual-defense agreement to guarantee its protection in an eventual peace agreement with Russia.