Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba spoke about the preparation of three key events to mark the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence: the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform, the first Kyiv summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, and a military parade for Independence Day.

He announced this at a briefing on Wednesday, July 28.

"We expect an unprecedented number of international guests of the highest level: heads of state and government, heads of parliaments, members of governments. These few days will testify the Ukraine's authority on the international arena and will show the respect of partners for the Ukrainian state in its historic year,” Dmytro Kuleba stated.

The Minister also reminded that on the initiative of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine is creating the first international format for discussing Crimea, threats of Russian occupation and ways to return the peninsula to the control of Ukraine.

"The Crimea Platform is an example of the establishment of a new security architecture, when, in contrast to large established alliances, we create an association of like-minded people to implement a simple and particular task: countering the threats of Russian occupation of Crimea and deoccupation of our peninsula," he said.

The Minister added that as of now, 28 countries and international organizations have confirmed their participation in the Inaugural Summit of the Crimea Platform: “This will be an unprecedented international event in the history of Ukraine. Never before have so many states gathered in Ukraine for such an event. I'm confident that this result already allows us to say that we have managed to establish the core of the international coalition for the liberation of Crimea. "

Dmytro Kuleba expects the participation of all leading partner countries of Ukraine in Europe and North America. He said that the Crimea Declaration, which is almost agreed upon, is the final document of the Summit, which will fix the fundamentally important provisions for Ukraine.

Dmytro Kuleba reminded that the summit will be just a beginning of persistent and long-term work of the Crimea Platform in 5 priority areas:

• non-recognition policy;
• sanctions;
• security in the Azov-Black Sea region;
• protection of human rights and international humanitarian law;
• environmental and economic consequences of the Russian occupation of Crimea.

“Crimea has already become for Russia a suitcase without a handle. The Crimea Platform will turn it into an unbearable cargo, ” the minister concluded.

According to Dmytro Kuleba, the second important event will be the first Kyiv Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, which will take place on August, 23 on the initiative of the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska.

It is high time to demonstrate the power of the "soft power" of First Ladies and Gentlemen around the world to change our societies and our countries for the better. This will be the first such event in Europe and almost the whole world. A very ambitious task, but we are not afraid of such tasks. We plan to make this summit regular, to increase the number of participants from year to year, ” he said.

The Minister paid special attention to the military parade on the occasion of Independence Day. He said that it will be attended by dozens of international guests.

"It will be a sign of support for Ukraine and respect for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which have been heroically confronting a much more powerful machine of the Russian army for more than seven years and defending Ukraine from the Russian armed aggression."