Considering cooperation in the frames of the existing international platforms and possibilities of creation of the new ones to discuss the model of the de-occupation of the peninsula became an important component of the Age of Crimea Forum that took place in Kyiv on February 26 marking the sixth anniversary of illegal annexation of Crimea.
Panelists from Ukraine, the USA, Great Britain, Turkey and Sweden emphasized the need to continue international pressure on Russia caused by the temporary occupation of Crimea, to strengthen the EU and NATO member states’ sanctions, to document human rights violations committed by the Russian Federation in the illegally annexed Crimea as well as to use all other existing and new instruments which would enable returning Russia to the framework of international law. In particular, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Joseph Pennington mentioned: “The United States will maintain sanctions against Russia until Russia returns control of Crimea to Ukraine. We aim to convince at all international platforms that Russia’s illegal occupation of Ukraine will never be accepted by the international community”.
