(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) WASHINGTON, Sept 23 (KUNA) -- US President Joe Biden said on Friday his country refuses to recognise referendums currently being organised by Moscow across several regions in Ukraine, where voters will decide whether to join Russia, threatening to impose further sanctions on Russia in retaliation.
'The United States will never recognize Ukrainian territory as anything other than part of Ukraine. Russiaآ's referenda are a sham, a false pretext, to try to annex parts of Ukraine by force in flagrant violation of international law, including the United Nations Charter,' the president said in a statement.
'We will work with our allies and partners to impose additional swift and severe economic costs on Russia.'
'The United States stands with our partners around the world - and with every nation that respects the core tenets of the UN charter - in rejecting whatever fabricated outcomes Russia will announce,' he added.
'We will continue to support the Ukrainian people and provide them with security assistance to help them defend themselves as they courageously resist Russia's invasion.'
Separately, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said the US is taking Russian President Vladimir Putin's threat, made earlier in a public address, to use nuclear weapons against the West in retaliation 'very seriously.'
However, she said Washington has currently 'not seen any reason to adjust' its nuclear posture. (end)
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