Gilmore Emphasizes Ukraine Has Been Occupied and Invaded by Russia, Denounces Putin’s Fraudulent Claim of ‘Annexation’

Describing the area as “occupied” or “invaded”communicates illegality & criminal attack. Putin describes those areas as part of Russia, & therefore Ukrainian advances as an attack on Russian territory. This is not true, and is a false Russian propaganda message.#StandWithUkraine

— Jim Gilmore (@gov_gilmore) October 2, 2022

Former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore, who served in Vienna, Austria, as the U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe from 2019-21, issued a statement after Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed last week to have “annexed” territory in Ukraine.

Besides serving as the 68th Governor of Virginia (1998-2002), Gilmore has also served as Virginia Attorney General, former Republican National Committee chairman (2001), and former Army counterintelligence agent.

The United States and other western countries have also denounced Vladimir Putin’s move.

“The American mainstream media should not describe East Ukraine and Crimea as ‘annexed’ by Russia.

“Those areas of the Ukraine war are not ‘annexed.’ There is no authority in international law for the Russian Duma, or President Putin to ‘annex’ anything. Describing the areas as ‘annexed’ is the Russian infowar message, but it is not true.

“Any implied acknowledgment of East Ukraine or Crimea being ‘annexed’ suggests the Russian invasion has been successful, which it has not. It would be better to describe the area as ‘occupied’ or ‘invaded,’ which communicates illegality and criminal attack.

“When I was ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) the U.S. never accepted that Crimea had been ‘annexed.’ Putin wants to describe those areas as now a part of Russia, and therefore Ukrainian advances as an attack on Russian territory. This is not true and is a false Russian propaganda message.” -USOSCE Ambassador James Gilmore (2019 – 2021)

Background:

-Politico: Biden denounces Kremlin’s ‘phony’ move to annex Ukrainian territory

-The White House: Statement from President Biden on Russia’s Attempts to Annex Ukrainian Territory

-Washington Post: Putin, recommitting to war, illegally claims annexation of Ukrainian regions

-New York Times: Russia’s Annexation Claim Is News to Residents of Lyman, Ukraine – The New York Times

-Associated Press: Putin illegally annexes Ukraine land; Kyiv seeks NATO entry

-NBC News: Ukraine retakes Lyman as Russian retreat deals blow to Putin’s annexation

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell (Staunton Waynesboro Augusta County-GOP breakfast, 2007)