Pseudo-referendums in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine have no meaning - Levits

RIGA - Latvia condemns the pseudo-referendums in the territories of Ukraine occupied by Russia, and these so-called ''referendums'' have no meaning, President Egils Levits announced today after a meeting with Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity).

"We condemn the pseudo-referendums on the territory of Ukraine and declare that they have no meaning and that they are completely unrecognized," said the President.

Levits emphasized that on this issue Latvia agrees with all the member states of the European Union and essentially with the whole world.

The AFP news agency reports that Kremlin-installed authorities in four Ukrainian regions under Russian control claimed victory Tuesday in annexation votes, drawing global outrage, as Moscow warned it could use nuclear weapons to defend the territories.

Ukraine and its allies have denounced the so-called referendums as a sham, saying the West would never recognize the results of the ballots, which have dramatically ratcheted up the stakes of Russia's seven-month invasion.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed Tuesday that Kyiv would defend its citizens in Moscow-held regions and rejected the referendums as a "farce".