On July 6, in a mixed format, the 13th round of consultations between Ukraine and the European Union took place on the legal consequences of the temporary occupation by the Russian Federation of certain territories of Ukraine, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.
The Ukrainian delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Yevhen Perebyinis, and the European Union delegation by Deputy Managing Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the European External Action Service Audronė Perkausikienė. The event was held with the participation of the Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Olha Kuryshko and representatives of relevant Ukrainian bodies and EU institutions.
The Ukrainian side reaffirmed its unwavering position on non-recognition of any attempts by Russia to alter the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine or to impose a different status on the temporarily occupied territories. It was emphasised that the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders cannot be subject to any compromise.
Yevhen Perebyinis briefed European partners on Russia's ongoing grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. In particular, this concerned the forced passportisation of the population, the unlawful mobilisation of Ukrainian citizens into the armed forces of the aggressor state, changes to the demographic composition of the population, and the systematic suppression of Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar identity.
Special attention was given to Russia's unlawful actions regarding Ukrainian children, including their militarisation, forced integration into the Russian educational and social environment, the imposition of Russian citizenship, and their unlawful transfer to Russia.
The parties agreed to continue systematic cooperation with a view to ensuring Russia's accountability for international crimes and further developing international legal mechanisms to combat impunity. In this context, possibilities for strengthening sanctions and visa restrictions against individuals involved in the aggression against Ukraine were also discussed.
The EU side informed participants of preparations for the adoption of the 21st package of European Union sanctions against Russia, which is set to become one of the most far-reaching since the beginning of Russia's full-scale aggression. Its introduction will serve as a further confirmation of the unity of EU member states in supporting Ukraine and continuing the policy of increasing pressure on the aggressor state.
The holding of the consultations demonstrated the shared readiness of Ukraine and the EU to continue coordinating efforts to protect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, restore a just and lasting peace, and hold Russia accountable for its violations of international law.