Melanie Jolie spoke to reporters Thursday from New York, where she is meeting as part of the Canadian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly. So far, world leaders at the General Assembly have largely focused on global instability caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while laying the groundwork for a pushback if Putin tries to annex Russian-controlled territories.

		Read more: ‘We will never recognize them’: Trudeau condemns Ukraine annexation referendums 		
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			‘We will never recognize them’: Trudeau condemns referendums on annexing parts of Ukraine

Many fear that claiming them as part of Russia would provide a dangerous pretext for Putin to try to defend himself by using tactical nuclear weapons to stop the ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive. Story continues below ad Joly called Putin’s nuclear threats “irresponsible” and “unthinkable” amid the counterattack in recent days, but also warned that “we cannot be naive” about the threats. “We have to make sure we work with allies in different scenarios. We now know that Putin is right around the corner. He is cramped and increasingly isolated,” she said. “At the same time, we have to be very careful. We must ensure that the international community does not legitimize the fake referendum that Putin is trying to hold,” Jolie added. “It is fundamental because we want to make sure that Russia does not have this false legitimacy as an argument that can be used in the context of this illegal and unjustified war. That’s why we’re telling it like it is – these are fake referendums and we’re mobilizing the international community to make sure that happens.” Jolie also said more sanctions against Russia were coming “very soon,” but that she did not support a visa ban on Russians. Many are currently trying to flee the country as Putin mobilizes additional forces to support a struggling war effort. He said Canada also continues to work with other countries at the United Nations with the goal of prosecuting Putin and Russia for the crime of the attack. Story continues below ad

			NATO joins the chorus condemning Russia

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg issued a statement on behalf of the military alliance on Thursday, condemning “in the strongest possible terms” the plans to hold the referendums. Trending Stories

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He referred to the March 2022 vote by the UN General Assembly, which clearly stated that no land seized as a result of either threats or the use of force would be recognized as legitimate. “Mock referendums in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions of Ukraine have no legitimacy and will be a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter. NATO Allies will not recognize their illegal and illegal annexation. These lands are Ukraine,” the allied statement said. “We call on all states to reject Russia’s blatant attempts at territorial conquest.” The statement went on to condemn Putin’s “irresponsible nuclear rhetoric” and said the choice to end the war rests with the aggressor who started it: Russia. Story continues below ad “Russia has it in its hands to end the conflict,” the alliance said. “We reaffirm our unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and for Ukraine’s inherent right to self-defense.” 5:46 ‘We could be at a tipping point’: Freeland on Putin’s nuclear threats ‘We could be at a tipping point’: Freeland on Putin’s nuclear threats Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday condemned the planned referendums, which are to be held by Russian-installed officials between September 23 and 27 in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia provinces. The regions account for about 15 percent of Ukrainian territory. 0:52 ‘Failure and failure’: Trudeau condemns Putin’s latest nuclear threats, Ukraine mobilization ‘Failure and failure’: Trudeau condemns Putin’s latest nuclear threats, Ukraine mobilization Trudeau said Canada would never recognize the results of the referendums, which are widely seen as rigged. European officials have said the same. Story continues below ad Russian officials, meanwhile, have stepped up their rhetoric about the possibility of using nuclear weapons and suggested that any attack on territory perceived as Russian would justify any and all forms of military force. “Trespassing on Russian territory is a crime that allows you to use all the forces of self-defense,” Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president, said on social media. Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the pro-Kremlin RT TV station, wrote: “Today a referendum, tomorrow recognition as part of the Russian Federation, the day after tomorrow strikes on Russian soil become a full-scale war between Ukraine and NATO and Russia, solving Russia’s hands in every way.” Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland offered a stark assessment of the situation on Wednesday. “I think we could be at a tipping point in Russia’s illegal invasion,” he said. “The next step will be for the Russian people to understand, from Russia’s point of view, this is a completely destructive, pointless war. And we can’t get there soon enough.” — with files from The Associated Press. © 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.