Russia will be invited to participate in the international platform toward the end of Crimea occupation, according to First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Emine Dzheppar.
"We will invite Russia to take part in the platform. Of course, we understand, seeing their ostrich-like position throughout these six years, how they twist things and act absolutely cynically towards Ukraine and international law, there is little hope that Russia will take part in the platform," Dzheppar has told RFE/RL's Crimea.Realities.
If one of the platform's tasks is to monitor what is happening in Crimea, then the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry understands that "it's about the crimes that Russia is committing in Crimea."
"We are convinced that what happened in 2014 in Crimea and Donbas is a violation of the world order that emerged after World War 2. Not only Ukraine is interested in restoring justice. This is a test for Western countries," Dzheppar said.
International platform for the de-occupation of Crimea: Background
At the end of July, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the concept of the international platform "Crimea is Ukraine" was being finalized, and that, first, a consultative and advisory format with a transition to a negotiation format was expected to be set up.
Read alsoNSDC chief says Ukraine cannot retake occupied Crimea by military means nowOn August 24, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced that Ukraine would offer Germany to join the future international platform toward the "deoccupation" of Crimea.
Russia's annexation of Crimea: Main facts
- In March 2014, Russia deployed its troops in Crimea and subsequently annexed the Ukrainian peninsula, having set up a sham "referendum" on its self-determination. The self-proclaimed Crimean authorities said 96.77% were in favor of accession to Russia.
- On March 18, a so-called "agreement" was signed in the Kremlin on Crimea and Sevastopol's accession to the Russian Federation. Western powers never recognized the illegitimate annexation attempt by Russia. They introduced a number of economic sanctions against the Russian Federation in this regard.
- On September 22, President Volodymyr Zelensky, during a meeting with Vice-President of the European Commission, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, raised the question of creating a negotiating platform for ending the occupation of the Crimean peninsula.
