Like several European countries, Austria also summoned the Russian ambassador on Monday. It is a concerted action by these states, who all agreed to make it clear to Russia’s ambassadors at about the same time that they were rejecting mock referendums and the annexation of four Ukrainian regions.
The Russian head of the mission in Vienna, Dmitrij Ljubinskij, is said to protest at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday morning. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said on Friday: “Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhya are and will remain Ukraine. Just like Crimea”.
Germany, Poland and Italy have also summoned the Russian ambassadors. In Belgium that happened on Friday.
Putin celebrates illegal annexation
After the annexation of the four Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson, Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated his illegal actions on Friday in Moscow’s Red Square. Thousands of people, some waving Russian flags, called on Putin to shout “Hurrah” – “so they can hear the voice of Red Square thousands of miles away”.
Referring to the now annexed territories, Putin also said: “Russia is not only opening its doors, but also its heart. Welcome home!” He then sang the Russian national anthem together with the four occupation leaders of the affected areas. Moreover, Putin again questioned Ukrainian sovereignty. “Russia has created the modern Ukrainian state,” Putin said.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
