US won’t recognize eastern Ukraine referendum results

White House press secretary Jay Carney. AP

WASHINGTON — The White House says the Unites States does not recognize the results of a twin sovereignty referendum in eastern Ukraine.

Spokesman Jay Carney says it is also “disappointing” that Russia did not use its influence to stop the vote from happening. Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously said the referendum should be postponed, but the pro-Russian insurgents in eastern Ukraine still moved forward with the votes.

The insurgents said voters overwhelmingly backed sovereignty in the hastily arranged votes. It was all but impossible to verify the insurgents’ claims given that no international election monitors were in place.

Carney said the White House’s focus now is on ensuring that national elections are held in Ukraine without interference on May 25.