20 EU Member States, UK, and US to Boycott Putin's 'Inauguration' in Russia

Most European Union countries, the United Kingdom and the United States will boycott Putin's "inauguration" ceremony in Russia for a new six-year term of office. Reuters reports.

This will underscore Russia's isolation after two years of Russian troops' full-scale invasion of neighbouring sovereign Ukraine under the leadership of dictator Putin.

The night before, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at a briefing that no US representatives would attend Vladimir Putin's "inauguration".

"No, we will not have a representative at his inauguration. We do not consider these elections to be free and fair," the US State Department spokesman said.

The UK and Canada said they would not send anyone to attend the ceremony, which comes a day after Russia announced on Monday that it would conduct tactical nuclear exercises that it hopes will cool "hot heads" in the West.

An EU spokesman said the EU ambassador to Russia would not attend the ceremony.

The European diplomat said that 20 EU member states will boycott the inauguration, but seven other countries are expected to send representatives. In addition to France, Hungary and Slovakia are expected to attend, two diplomatic sources told Reuters.

Highlighting the divisions over how to deal with Russia, a Paris-based diplomatic source said that "France will be represented by its ambassador to Russia."

The German Foreign Ministry said it would not attend.

It is also known that the diplomatic representatives of the Czech Republic and Estonia will not attend Putin's "inauguration". 

The Baltic States, which no longer have representatives in Moscow, have categorically ruled out their participation in this event.

"We believe that the isolation of Russia, and especially its criminal leader, should be continued. For Lithuania, participation in Putin's inauguration is unacceptable. Our priority remains to support Ukraine and its people who are fighting Russian aggression," said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže also announced that her representative would not attend the ceremony.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will not attend either.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stated that during the so-called March 'elections', the Russian Federation violated the provisions of numerous international documents that form the basis of the modern system of international relations. The illegal organisation of the so-called electoral process in the sovereign territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation was a gross violation of the generally recognised norms and principles of international law. 

Based on the above, and taking into account the current arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for Vladimir Putin, Ukraine sees no legal grounds for recognising him as the democratically elected and legitimate President of the Russian Federation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called on foreign states, international organisations and the public to follow suit, not to recognise the results of the Russian pseudo-elections and the legitimacy of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, to continue to oppose his organised destruction of the rule of law and universally recognised democratic values, and to continue to effectively support the people of Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression, which poses a threat to European and global security, peace and stability.