The international community, including the European Union, reiterated its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine on Monday 23 August in Kiev, at the first summit of the Crimean platform and on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the country’s independence.
Representing the EU, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, all stressed that Crimea was Ukrainian. They called for the situation in Crimea to remain high on the international agenda. “This is why the International Crimean Platform has our utmost political support. The illegal annexation constitutes an affront to the very rules-based international order in which we all have a vital interest in preserving. This is why we call for the broadest international support possible in addressing the annexation of Crimea, through non-recognition measures and advocacy in international fora”, Michel said.
He reaffirmed the EU’s “unwavering” stance: “We do not and will not recognise the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia. We will continue to staunchly enforce our non-recognition policy. And we will stand tall against any violations of international law”, he added, as the EU adopted sanctions in retaliation for the illegal annexation.
Mr Michel and Mr Dombrovskis also highlighted the human rights situation on the peninsula, the continued militarisation of the peninsula and the destructive actions against the peninsula’s cultural heritage, as well as the lack of access to Crimea for the international community.
The Commission’s Executive Vice-President also underlined the EU’s continued support for Ukrainian diplomatic efforts to end this illegal annexation and “temporary” occupation.
Russia, for its part, denounced the organisation of this forum. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)