Ukraine will never accept any attempts to legitimize Russia's temporary occupation of Crimea or question its sovereignty over the peninsula.
Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Yevhen Perebyinis said this at the opening of the fifth International Forum of the Expert Network of the International Crimea Platform, according to an Ukrinform correspondertn.
"Crimea will undoubtedly be Ukrainian. Crimea will undoubtedly be de-occupied. Of course, our priority is diplomatic efforts, but since Russia is currently not ready for them, our security and defense forces are doing everything possible – and impossible – to restore peace to Ukrainian soil and return Crimea to Ukraine's control," he said.
Perebyinis emphasized that Ukraine will never agree to any attempts to legitimize the occupation of Crimea or cast doubt on its sovereignty over the peninsula.
According to the Deputy Foreign Minister, Kyiv remains convinced that a lasting and just peace is impossible without restoring Ukraine's territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
