Excellencies,
Dear Mr. President, dear Volodimir,
Friends of Ukraine,
Crimea is the symbol of Russian aggression. This is where the war started back in 2014. The war did not start in actually 2022, it started in 2014. That was when Russia broke the international law by attacking Ukraine’s territorial integrity and independence.
The core idea of Crimea Platform is to put an end to the occupation of Crimea. To remind to everybody that Crimea is Ukraine.
Latvia understands all too well the importance of not recognising annexation. We along with our Lithuanian and Estonian friends restored our independence and sovereignty after almost half a century of Russian occupation. But it was a long journey. I do not believe that Ukraine and Crimea deserve to wait that long.
Today, we reconfirm our commitment to stand with Ukraine. We will not recognise the illegal annexation of Crimea, Sevastopol or any other region of Ukraine.
However for the people who survived and live under occupation legal international nuances offer little help. People await liberation.
That is why the path to peace is through strength. We must sustain maximum pressure on Russia. We must continue unwavering support to Ukraine. It is absolutely clear at this time that Russia does not want peace. No sign of willingness to end the war.
We need to work together, all of us, for just and lasting peace. Work towards meaningful negotiations.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Latvia firmly believes in a world where Ukraine is whole and free. Its borders respected, people safe, and future self-determined. The principles of United Nations Charter respected and protected.
I just want to say one more time that Crimea is Ukraine.
Slava Ukraini!
Thank you.
