The symbol of the Fifth International Crimea Platform Summit was the shield/kalkan “Dünya/Universe”. The ceramic panel was displayed in the hall of the summit, which took place at the venue of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Crimean Tatar ceramic artist Rustem Skibin, the creator of the composition, believes that the shield is not merely a work of art but a powerful symbol of defense, resistance, and the preservation of identity. It visually embodies the protection of human rights, culture, and the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Crimea is the first line of resistance against occupation and the first battleground, and this shield reflects exactly that.

The composition sends a visual message from Ukraine to the entire world: we are fighting not only for ourselves — we are a shield for everyone. The Dünya kalkan fits logically and symbolically into the space of the General Assembly, serving as a reminder that the liberation of Crimea is not only a Ukrainian issue but also a matter of global security and justice. The image of the kalkan echoes Crimea’s warrior tradition and serves as a metaphor for international law capable of stopping aggression.

The name of the shield — “Dünya” (Universe) — is the key to its deeper meaning. The panel resembles a model of the world, where the center (the umbo) represents justice, and around it the nations are arranged, united in a common goal. The Crimea Platform brought together leaders of UN member states who proved their respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and their readiness to fight for peace, as envisaged by the UN Charter.

Summit participants also received drawings created by students of the Crimean Tatar “Birlik School” Lyceum, the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Ukraine “Umma,” and the Novopechersk School complex. Their idea was to convey to foreign diplomats that Crimea is an inseparable part of Ukraine. The inscriptions “Crimea is Ukraine” accompanied the children’s artworks, clearly expressing the position of the Crimean Tatar people — even of their youngest representatives — that Crimea must inevitably be liberated from Russian occupation.

All these children have never seen the peninsula with their own eyes, yet they all know that it is their parents’ Home, and therefore theirs as well.