BRUSSELS – The European Union is studying Ukraine’s proposal to create a “Crimean platform” and establish an EU special representative for Crimea, and is awaiting additional information on the structure of the platform, EU Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano has said in a comment to Interfax-Ukraine.
“Ukraine has presented the idea of an “International Crimean Platform” to the EU and to several major international stakeholders. In this context, among other measures, Ukraine put forward the idea of establishing an EU Special Representative for Crimea. As outlined in our EU-Ukraine Summit joint statement from Oct. 6, we welcome the diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. We are looking into details at Ukraine’s proposals in this regard,” Stano said.
“The EU and Ukraine have been addressing the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula through many bilateral and multilateral channels and on different levels, including political. We do not and will not recognize the illegal annexation, which is a violation of international law. While we are looking forward to further information how Ukraine would like to structure the platform, the EU’s non-recognition policy already offers a strong and well-implemented toolbox, which helps in advancing towards the goals that Ukraine has outlined and which match those of our non-recognition policy overall,” he said.
