Paris | The G7 will not recognize “Russia’s attempts to legitimize (the) occupation” of Crimea, he said in a statement on Thursday, in a climate of heightened tension with Moscow.
“We unequivocally denounce the temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by Russia”, assure the seven richest countries in the world almost seven years to the day after the start of the conflict. “We do not recognize, and will not recognize Russia’s attempts to legitimize this occupation.”
This statement is in line with what US President Joe Biden said at the end of February that he would “never” accept Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula in Ukraine.
Sign of the will of the new American administration to oppose Russia more firmly: Mr. Biden on Wednesday described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “killer”, angering Moscow.
The conflict between Russian-backed fighters and Ukrainian troops has claimed more than 13,000 lives since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine rebelled against Kiev .
“Seven years after the illegitimate and illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by Russia, we reaffirm our unwavering support and commitment to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the ‘Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders,’ insist the G7 Foreign Ministers (Germany, Canada, United States, France, Italy, Japan and United Kingdom) as well as the High Representative of the European Union.
“By using force against the territorial integrity of Ukraine, Russia has openly violated international law and contravened these principles,” they add.
The signatories are “firmly opposed to the continued destabilization of Ukraine by Russia, and in particular to the actions that the latter is carrying out in certain areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, in defiance of the commitments it has made.” within the framework of the Minsk agreements ”.
“The advent of peace requires the full implementation of the Minsk agreements. Russia is a party to the conflict in eastern Ukraine, and not a mediator in this conflict, ”they continue.