On 21 April 2021, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova held a video conference with the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland Niall Burgess.

First Deputy Minister informed her counterpart of the unprecedented build-up of Russian forces along the Ukrainian state border, in the temporarily occupied territories in eastern Ukraine and in Crimea, which is accompanied by the intensification of propaganda campaigns and aggressive rhetoric from the Russian side. "Throughout the years of occupation, Russia has turned Crimea into a military base in the Black Sea, rather than into a tourist pearl, as it had declared", she stated.

"Russia has caused irreparable damage to Ukraine, in part by settling Russian nationals in Crimea, by developing military infrastructure, and illegal extraction of natural resources. The water issue is particularly disturbing. As an occupying power, Russia is neglecting its obligations to the protected population", First Deputy Minister emphasized.

In this regard, Emine Dzhaparova appealed to the Irish side to increase, in cooperation with international partners, the political and diplomatic pressure on Russia, demanding the latter to observe its international commitments.

First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informed of the situation in Crimea, noting that it is constantly deteriorating, especially in the context of security and the situation with human rights. The diplomat stressed, in particular, on the threats posed by Russia's growing militarization of the temporarily occupied Crimea and parts of the Black and Azov Seas to all countries of the region, and on the negative consequences for the freedom of maritime navigation and the situation with trade.

"The activities of the Russian occupation administration in Crimea are an obvious and cynically planned attack on human rights and fundamental freedoms, undermining the norms and principles of international humanitarian law", Emine Dzhaparova stated.

She added: "We believe that the EU's global sanctions regime for human rights violations is the tool that can and should be used in response to gross human rights violations in Crimea."

The partners also discussed the establishment of the Crimea Platform as a tool to form an international coalition for the de-occupation of Crimea and for the response of the international community to violations of the norms and principles of international law.

Emine Dzhaparova renewed the invitation to the head of the Irish government to participate in the inaugural summit of the Crimean platform.

On his part, Niall Burgess reaffirmed Ireland's support for the Crimea Platform and its goals.

First Deputy Minister stressed that Ukraine remains committed to profound reforms and to the implementation of the Association Agreement with a view to create the conditions for Ukraine’s full membership in the EU. In this regard, she noted the importance of securing Ukraine’s European perspective and its support by the EU Member States.