Ukraine’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs protests strongly over the recent Mar.18, 2020 visit of President Putin of the Russian Federation to the Ukrainian sovereign territory under temporary occupation by Russia – the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and City of Sevastopol. This visit was not sanctioned by Ukraine.

Similar to previous such appearances of Russian officials in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and City of Sevastopol, Ukraine considers this visit to be a blatant violation by Russia of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Furthermore, it demonstrates a glaring disregard for the universally established principles and norms of international law, including the UN Charter, resolutions of the UN General Assembly, and its own obligations under both bilateral and multilateral agreements, with Ukraine and the Russian Federation as signing parties.

Crimea and Sevastopol are, and will remain, an integral part of Ukraine’s sovereign territory. No visit of any Russian official to the occupied peninsular, as well as illegal construction of the so-called Crimean Bridge, shall not constitute any change in the status of these Ukrainian administrative territories as set out in the Constitution of Ukraine and recognised by the international community.

Ukrainian MFA has delivered a protest note to the Russian MFA in respect of President Putin’s visit to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and City of Sevastopol.