Ukraine: Joint discussion on the consequences on the territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russia, including Crimea
On 27 May the European Union (EU) and Ukraine held in Brussels the 11th round of discussions at senior officials’ level on the consequences of the temporary occupation of Ukrainian territories by Russia, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.
These discussions were launched in 2015 with the aim to coordinate efforts and have regular exchanges on the implementation of the EU's non-recognition policy towards the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol. At the request of the Ukrainian side, the scope of the discussions this year was broadened to cover all temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine including Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.
The EU reaffirmed its unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The EU reiterated that it will never recognise Russia’s attempts at annexing by force territories of Ukraine. The so-called “elections” and “referenda” organised by Russia, past and future, in the territories of Ukraine, and their results, are null and void and cannot produce any legal effect whatsoever. Crimea, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia are Ukraine.
The EU and Ukraine exchanged views on the impact of the temporary occupation of Ukrainian territories by Russia. The EU reaffirmed its commitment to full implementation of its non-recognition policy, including through restrictive measures imposed in response to Russia’s violations of international law.
Both sides also discussed the severe deterioration of the human rights situation in these territories, including forced deportation and displacement, forced ‘passportisation’, forced mobilisation of Ukrainian citizens by Russia, arbitrary detentions, as well as restrictions of freedom of expression.
Both sides also exchanged views on the security situation and the growing militarisation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia.
Ukraine informed about the activities of the “International Crimea Platform”, including the 3rd Summit held in Kyiv on 24 August 2023, the 2nd Second Parliamentary Summit organised in Prague on 24 October 2023 and the 2nd ‘Black Sea Security Conference hosted in Sofia on 14-15 April 2024. The EU reaffirmed its support for the implementation of the commitments taken within the Joint Declarations of the three International Crimea Platform Summits.