- If Russia presses ahead with annexation referendums in Ukraine’s occupied eastern areas, the EU on Tuesday (20 September) said it would not recognise the result and would prepare potential new sanctions on Moscow.
- The step is likely to sharply escalate the war.
- After a potential annexation of those territories, Western diplomats worry that Moscow would declare Ukrainian attacks on those areas to be assaults on Russia itself, a potential trigger for a general military mobilisation or a more dangerous escalation that could include the use of nuclear weapons.
EU mulls more sanctions if Russia persists with referedums in parts of Ukraine
