"Any referenda held under conditions of Russian military presence, intimidation, and forced deportation cannot be free or fair. Any annexation of Ukrainian territory would be a gross violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and the UN Charter," the statement said.
The G7 countries also pledged to pursue further "targeted sanctions and are committed to sustained economic and political pressure on Russia."
"The G7 Foreign Ministers and the High Representative were unanimous in their unwavering commitment to continue and sustain economic, financial, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic support for Ukraine for as long as necessary and to the extent necessary, to ensure Ukraine’s path to freedom, peace, reconstruction, and economic development," the statement reads.
Russia is holding an orchestrated "referendum" in the territories it has occupied in Ukraine with the aim of annexing the territories on 23-27 September.
Pseudo-referenda show on joining Russia starts in occupied Ukraine: as it happens
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