Crimea Platform Officially Launches: Joint Declaration Signed, Line Left for Russia's Signature

All summit participants confirmed their commitment to Ukraine's territorial integrity and adherence to international law.

On August 23 in Kyiv, the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform — an international mechanism designed to develop a common strategy on the deoccupation of Crimea — was held.

The event took place in central Kyiv near the Mariinsky Palace. Representatives of 46 states and international organizations, including all NATO countries, took part.

We tell you about the signed joint declaration, how the summit went, and what strategy was developed.

What the summit participants said

The summit was opened by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky with a welcoming speech. In his address, he praised the support of all participants, stating that "Ukraine alone cannot return Crimea."

Volodymyr Zelensky 
President of Ukraine

The synergy of our efforts must force Russia to sit down at the negotiating table to return the peninsula to Ukraine. Ukraine, and I personally will do everything possible to return Crimea so that Crimea, together with Ukraine, becomes part of Europe. To this end, we will use all possible political, legal and, above all, diplomatic means.

He proposed "to focus already today on practical work and coordinating efforts on very specific issues," among them, first of all:

• strengthening sanctions;
• protection of human rights;
• overcoming the environmental and economic consequences of the occupation;
• ensuring freedom of navigation in the Black and Azov seas.

Zelensky also called on countries to appoint their authorized representatives who will maintain contact and coordinate the work of the new Office of the Crimea Platform.

Following Zelensky, Latvian President Egils Levits spoke. In his speech, he noted that sooner or later Crimea will return to Ukraine.

Polish President Andrzej Duda stated that "no one will remain indifferent to the violation of international law." "Poland has known the word occupation well since Soviet times, and the painful feeling when allies leave you to your fate behind the Iron Curtain," the Polish leader summed up.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said that his country will never recognize the occupation of Crimea, will continue to work on strengthening sanctions against Russia, and that he "feels at home in Ukraine among his closest friends." 

Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid called on EU countries to work more substantively to draw Eastern Partnership countries, including Ukraine, into various dimensions of European cooperation, and to help with reforms in countries that aspire to become part of the EU. 

Moldovan President Maia Sandu said in her speech that it is important to adhere to international law and supports the UN resolution on the indivisibility of Ukraine's territory. 

Leader of the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Dzhemilev said that "this forum is a beacon of hope for a speedy liberation from occupation." He noted that the current occupation regime imposed by Russia is even worse than the Soviet one.

President of the European Council Charles Michel said that the European Union does not intend to recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia and will continue to adhere to a policy of non-recognition.

Joint declaration of the summit participants and the line for Russia's signature

Participants of the first summit signed the joint declaration of the Crimea Platform, which was later published by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry. It condemns Russia's occupation of Crimea and the violation of people's rights and security on the peninsula.

During his speech, Zelensky stated that the document confirms "non-recognition of Russia's illegal occupation of Crimea and the obligation to consider imposing additional political and diplomatic restrictive sanctions against Russia in the event of further aggression."

In addition, the participants of the Crimea Platform decided to:

• combine efforts aimed at protecting the rights and freedoms of Crimean residents and achieving the immediate release of Ukrainians illegally detained or convicted by Russia;
• create a network of permanent and rapid communication between representatives of the foreign ministries of the participating states of the Crimea Platform;
• consider the possibility of supporting economic, infrastructure and environmental projects that would contribute to the further development of the Ukrainian regions bordering the peninsula;
• recognize the role of national parliaments in countering the occupation of Crimea and encourage coordination of activities regarding the peninsula among national parliaments, as well as within interparliamentary assemblies,

The signatories of the declaration noted that "any change in the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol as an integral part of the sovereign territory of Ukraine is not and will not be recognized," and that Russia's attempts to legalize the temporary occupation and illegal seizure are "unacceptable."

In his closing speech, Zelensky called on Russia to join the Crimea Platform, sign the joint declaration, and "correct the tragic historical mistake by developing ways to deoccupy Crimea."   

Volodymyr Zelensky
President of Ukraine

The summit with the participation of 46 countries took place despite all the obstacles thrown in its path by third parties... The joint declaration will always have a line for the signature of a Russian representative. It is possible that Russia will sign it last, at the final summit of the Crimea Platform in Yalta. 

After the declaration was signed, the Verkhovna Rada almost unanimously approved an Appeal to the UN, PACE, OSCE, NATO, the European Parliament, governments and parliaments of foreign states on enhancing international cooperation within the framework of the Crimea Platform to counter the aggression of the Russian Federation.