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Ukraine could only resume freshwater supplies from mainland territories to the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Russia, only after the liberation of the occupied region, says Deputy Prime Minister for Temporarily Occupied Territories Oleksiy Reznikov

The Russian Federation must withdraw its troops from the Ukrainian soil, Reznikov added, speaking at the Freedom of Speech panel show on ICTV.

He noted that the government had not yet received any official appeal on the issue from Russia.

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"If they apply, the response will be very simple: withdraw from the occupied Crimea, withdraw from the occupied Donbas, pull your troops back from Ukraine, and then we will restore water supply for Ukrainian citizens in the free Crimea," Reznikov said.

Read alsoUkraine to initiate creation of international platform to end Russian occupation of Crimea

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba noted that, despite the critical situation on the peninsula, Ukraine will not help Russia with water supply as the occupying power must bear full responsibility for whatever happens in the occupied territories.

"We are following the developments on the Crimean Peninsula. Of course, the situation there is more than critical. And there are no tools to resolve it from the occupying state's perspective. But we have no plans to help out Russia, the occupying state, in addressing their issues. I emphasize that, according to international law, the occupying state bears full responsibility for the situation on the occupied peninsula," said Kuleba.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal earlier stated that Ukraine would not supply water to Crimea for industrial and military needs.