Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses its strong and unequivocal protest against the recognition by the Russian Federation of the self-proclaimed Republic of Crimea as a subject of international law.

Such actions contradict international obligations of the Russian Federation under multilateral and bilateral agreements guaranteeing the territorial integrity of Ukraine, inviolability of its borders and non-interference with internal affairs of our state.

The independence of this entity was declared by illegitimate authorities based on the anti-constitutional referendum held with egregious violations of democratic standards for referendums that have been set within the framework of the OSCE and the Council of Europe and are an integral part of principles and values of international organizations. By recognizing the self-proclaimed Republic of Crimea as a “sovereign and independent state”, the Russian Federation grossly violated its duties and obligations arising from its membership in the mentioned international organizations.

Russia’s recognition of the self-proclaimed Republic of Crimea has the only objective to create false legal grounds for the annexation of the territory of Ukraine and its incorporation into the Russian Federation.

However, the aforesaid act of recognition under the conditions of unprovoked military aggression of Russia against Ukraine and Russian military occupation of the Crimea is void. Contemporary international law does not recognize the forcible annexation of the state territory as a legitimate method of acquisition.

Ukraine and international civilized community will never recognize Crimea’s illegitimately declared independence and violent seizure of the territory of Ukraine.