EU's Borrell urges international community not to recognise "sham" referendums

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell urged the international community on Wednesday not to recognise the "sham" referendums held by Russia in occupied Ukraine as the bloc proposed further sanctions against Moscow.

"With the illegal referenda organised by Russia, the Kremlin is following the same playbook that we have already seen in Georgia in 2008 and Crimea in 2014," Borrell said in a statement, adding they were violations of international law and the principles of the United Nations charter.

Borrell said the European Union was increasing its list of persons and entities facing sanctions.