Zelenskyy asks world to stand against Russian annexation; 'I believe in your ability to act'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the U.N. Security Council in a virtual address Tuesday shortly after word came that pro-Moscow officials say that residents in the Zaporizhzhia region voted to join Russia. "In front of the eyes of the whole world Russia is conducting this so-called sham referendum on the occupied territory of Ukraine," Zelenskyy said." People are forced to fill out some papers while being threatened by submachine guns."

The Kremlin-orchestrated vote has been dismissed by the U.S. and its Western allies as illegitimate. According to Russia-installed election officials in the Zaporizhzhia region, 93% of the ballots case in the vote were in support of the annexation. The address follows word that Pro-Moscow officials say that residents in three of the four occupied areas of Ukraine voted to join Russia. The Kremlin-orchestrated votes have been dismissed by the U.S. and its Western allies as illegitimate. Zelenskyy said annexation could mean an end to negotiations between Ukraine and Russia and he implored the world body to address the situation and put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Annexation is the kind of move that puts him alone against the whole of humanity. Such a clear signal is now needed from every country in the world. I believe in your ability to act."

The referendums follow a familiar Kremlin playbook for territorial expansion. In 2014, Russian authorities held a similar referendum on Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, under the close watch of Russian troops. Based on the voting, Russia annexed Crimea. Putin cited the defense of Russians living in Ukraine's eastern regions, and their supposed desires to join with Russia, as a pretext for his Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.