Ukraine Urges EU to Apply New Sanctions Regime Against Human Rights Violators in Crimea

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba met with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell during the 23rd Ukraine–EU Summit.

The parties welcomed the conclusion of three new agreements at this year’s Ukraine–EU Summit: on the Common Aviation Area, Ukraine’s participation in the EU’s Creative Europe and Horizon Europe programmes.

The men’s discussion focused on security and political issues.

Kuleba informed Borrell about the active diplomatic efforts of Ukraine, Germany, and France to organise a ministerial meeting and a summit of the Normandy format.

The chief Ukrainian diplomat separately raised the issue of EU’s sanctions against Russia.

The minister expressed gratitude for the decision of the Council of the EU to impose additional sanctions on eight representatives of the Russian occupation administration in Crimea. He underscored the importance of the next extension of the EU’s economic and sectoral sanctions against Russia in December 2021.

Kuleba called on the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to apply the new EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against human rights violators in Crimea. He also asked to pay the EU’s priority attention in the field of human rights to the situation on the occupied peninsula.

“We insist on tough sanctions against the aggressor state. For more than seven years, Russia has been systematically violating international law and international humanitarian law, human rights, and destroying people’s lives and destinies. Millions have lost their homes, tens of thousands lost their lives, and thousands lost their freedom. These are sufficient grounds for maintaining and strengthening the existing sanctions regime and introducing new restrictive measures,” the minister stressed.

The top diplomats of Ukraine and the EU pointed out the successful holding of the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform in Kyiv, discussed joint steps to implement the provisions of its final declaration, and the EU’s further support for the initiative.

Borrell reaffirmed the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as the EU’s readiness to continue to support Ukraine in countering Russian aggression and implementing reforms.

Natalia Tolub