The U.S. Se cretary of State John Kerry rejected efforts by the pro-Russian forces to hold a referendum in eastern Ukraine as "contrived and bogus". Kerry in a joint news conference with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton again cautioned Moscow that the U.S. would impose more powerful sanctions designed to hurt Russia's economy if it tries to disrupt Ukraine's presidential election set for May 25. State Department Spokesperson Jennifer Psaki echoed Kerry's statement.
“The United States notes with concern efforts by pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk to organize a bogus independence referendum on May 11. We flatly reject this illegal effort to further divide Ukraine,” she stressed.
Psaki said that “no civilized nation will recognize the results, and if Russia takes the next step to re-enact its illegal Crimea annexation in eastern or southern Ukraine and sends more forces over the border, harsh US and EU sanctions will follow.”
She reiterated that “the future of Ukraine is up to Ukrainians to decide.” The U.S. spokeswoman affirmed that the upcoming May 25 elections are “an important moment, and Russian efforts in the east to destabilize the situation run contrary to the Ukrainian people’s aspirations for an election in which they can choose the direction of their country.”
“All of us in the international community should support Ukraine’s efforts to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to vote, to run for office and to do so in peace,” she remarked.
