NATO says it condemns Russia's wide-ranging military build-up in the occupied Crimea.
"We strongly condemn and will not recognise Russia’s illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea. Crimea is the territory of Ukraine. We call on Russia to return control of Crimea to Ukraine. We condemn Russia’s ongoing and wide-ranging military build-up in Crimea, which is part of the larger pattern of Russian aggressive actions in the region," reads a statement released following the Ukraine-NATO Commission meeting in Kyiv.
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"Allies are deeply concerned by the human rights abuses and violations being carried out by the Russian de-facto authorities in Crimea against all Ukrainians, including the Crimean Tatars, and members of other local communities," the statement says.
The Allies have called on Russia to grant international monitoring organizations access to Crimea.
