In a marked show of disapproval over Russia’s leadership and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the United States and the majority of European Union countries have chosen to boycott the Kremlin ceremony scheduled to inaugurate Vladimir Putin for a new six-year term as president. This collective action presents a stark diplomatic snub, emphasizing their contention that the Russian election was neither free nor fair.
A spokesperson for the US State Department, Matthew Miller, stated unequivocally, “No, we will not have a representative at his inauguration.” Miller’s declaration reflects a widespread belief that the elections leading to Putin’s continued presidency did not meet international democratic standards. Despite the boycott, Miller acknowledged that “he is the president of Russia and he is going to continue in that capacity.”
This diplomatic boycott comes after Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry urged other countries and international organizations not to recognize the results of Russia’s most recent presidential election and questioned Putin’s legitimacy ahead of the inauguration. The ministry’s statement decried the inauguration ceremony as an attempt to create “the illusion of legality for the nearly lifelong stay in power of a person who has turned the Russian Federation into an aggressor state and the ruling regime into a dictatorship.”
Nevertheless, the stance is not universal within the EU. France and a few other member states have reportedly decided to send envoys to the event, highlighting a fracture in the Western bloc’s approach to Russia over two years since Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. An EU spokesperson confirmed that the bloc’s ambassador to Russia would join the majority of EU nations in abstaining from attendance, but details revealed by diplomatic sources indicate that besides France, countries like Hungary and Slovakia might be present.
Germany, echoing the majority position, has indicated that it will also not attend the ceremony. Meanwhile, the Baltic states, having severed diplomatic representation in Moscow, have categorically ruled out participation. “We believe that the isolation of Russia, and especially of its criminal leader, must be continued,” stated Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.
The European People’s Party (EPP) at the European Parliament has been vocal in urging the EU to adopt a united front in boycotting Putin’s inauguration. Manfred Weber MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group, underscored the sentiment, stating, “The presidential ‘election’ in Russia was undemocratic and has no legitimacy, and therefore Vladimir Putin’s presidency is illegitimate.”
Adding to the voices of dissent, Andrius Kubilius MEP and EPP Group spokesperson on Russia add, “The participation of EU diplomats in Putin’s ‘inauguration‘ is a total farce and a disgrace. They will be forced to congratulate him on his ‘re-election‘ and applaud his neo-imperialist statements, which include open threats to Western democracies. The Europeans deserve a better defence of their values by their diplomats.“
Relevant articles:
– Ukraine war briefing: US and most EU countries to boycott Putin swearing-in ceremony , The Guardian, 05/07/2024
– Reuters: US, most EU nations abstain from attending Putin’s inauguration, Kyiv Independent, 05/07/2024
– US, most EU nations to boycott Putin’s inauguration over Ukraine war, ThePrint, 05/06/2024
– The EPP calls the EU to boycott Vladimir Putin’s inauguration ceremony, European Interest, 05/06/2024