In response to the proposal made by the head of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Radoslaw Sikorski, to temporarily transfer the annexed Crimean peninsula under the mandate of the United Nations for a “fair referendum”, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, has stated that this is not a viable solution to the ongoing conflict in Crimea.
The statement, released by the Office of the President of Ukraine, comes after the recent visit of Sikorski to Ukraine, where he met with high-level officials and proposed the idea of a UN mandate for Crimea. The proposal was met with skepticism and criticism from Ukrainian officials, who view the annexation of Crimea by Russia as illegal and in violation of international law.
Yermak stated that while the Ukrainian government appreciates the efforts of the international community to resolve the situation in Crimea, the proposal made by Sikorski is not a realistic solution. He emphasized that Ukraine’s position remains unchanged – Crimea is an integral part of Ukraine and any attempts to legitimize its annexation by Russia will not be accepted.
The proposal made by Sikorski comes at a time when tensions between Ukraine and Russia are at an all-time high. Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and ongoing military aggression in eastern Ukraine have resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and displacement of millions of people.
The Ukrainian government has consistently called for the international community to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to condemn Russia’s actions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. However, the proposal made by Sikorski could potentially undermine these efforts and give legitimacy to Russia’s illegal actions.
Yermak also pointed out that the idea of a UN mandate for Crimea is not a new one and has been previously rejected by the international community. He stressed that the only viable solution to the conflict in Crimea is for Russia to withdraw its military forces and return the peninsula to Ukraine.
Despite the rejection of Sikorski’s proposal, the Ukrainian government remains open to dialogue and cooperation with the international community in finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Crimea. Yermak stated that Ukraine is committed to protecting the rights and interests of all citizens living in Crimea, regardless of their nationality or ethnicity.
In conclusion, the response from the Office of the President of Ukraine to the proposal made by Sikorski highlights the firm stance of the Ukrainian government on the issue of Crimea. While appreciating the efforts of the international community, Ukraine remains determined to regain control of its territory and will not accept any proposals that undermine its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The only way to resolve the conflict in Crimea is through diplomatic means and the respect of international law.
