The European Union believes that the introduction by the Russian State Duma of criminal liability, which is more appropriate during a full-scale war, as well as the holding of so-called "referendums" in the occupied Ukrainian territories, is a sign of the Kremlin's "nervousness" due to failures on the front.

This was said by a high-ranking European official from New York, reports "Interfax Ukraine."

"To me, that means nervousness in Moscow. I think, because of the pushback on the front. As for the referendum, it's been up in the air for weeks. Eventually, they're going to do it, trying to get at least some success that's illegal anyway. I understand it in this way," he said.

Regarding the announcement of possible sanctions against Russia and further military aid for Ukraine, the high-ranking official said that the EU "continues to cooperate with the USA, the UK, Japan, and others." "I don't expect any announcements here in New York, but there will be a meeting of the European Council in October, where there will progress on both sanctions and military support," he added.

On 20 September, the State Duma of the Russian Federation amended the Criminal Code and introduced the concepts of mobilisation, martial law and "wartime".

The occupiers plan to hold their sham referendums on annexing the captured territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions to Russia from September 23 to 27.

The head of the Foreign Ministry of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, called on the international community to react to the planned Russian sham "referendums" with new sanctions and more weapons for Ukraine.