Ireland will never recognise Russia's 'illegal' referendums in Ukraine - Coveney

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the United Nations Security Council by video (AP)

Defense Minister Simon Coveney has said Ireland "will never recognise the results of Russia’s sham referendums in Eastern Ukraine", branding them as "illegal and illegitimate".

It comes as pro-Moscow officials claim that residents in three of the four occupied areas of Ukraine have voted to join Russia in a Kremlin-orchestrated vote that has been dismissed by the US and Western allies as illegitimate.