On 17 August, the Permanent Representative Tamila Tasheva met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom in Ukraine, Ms Melinda Simmons.

The meeting was also attended by the Manager of Visits, Protocol and Social Policy of the British Embassy in Ukraine Kateryna Bykova, Deputy Permanent Representative Denys Chystikov and Head of the Crimean Platform Support Service Maria Tomak.

Ms Melinda Simmons is completing her four-year term as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom in Ukraine, which she began in April 2019.  This was her first appointment to a diplomatic post. In addition, Melinda Simmons is the first British Ambassador whose ancestors originate from Ukraine.

Melinda Simmons’ tenure coincided with serious escalations on the borders with Russia and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ms Simmons spent almost all of her time in Ukraine, working selflessly to strengthen international support for Ukraine, increase pressure on Russia, support political prisoners, and actively engage with the Mission on the issues of de-occupation and reintegration of Crimea. In addition, a number of events on the human rights situation in the occupied Crimea were held at the initiative of the Ambassador, which were attended by many diplomats accredited in Ukraine.   

“We strengthen each other. I was here because you, the Ukrainians, stayed here and continued to fight,” said Ms Melinda, stressing that the UK would continue to fully support Ukraine. 

The Ambassador’s personal and political position remains unchanged, and she plans to continue to work on the issue of Ukraine and Crimea in a new way.

During the meeting, the parties discussed common ideas and plans for further cooperation, in particular in the academic field.

“We have to talk about Crimea. We need to explain to the world that Crimea is Ukrainian land and that there is a strong historical basis for this, in addition to the purely legal one. To this end, we are working on the development of Ukrainian academic studies,” said the Permanent Representative.

Ms Simmons noted the efforts of the Mission aimed at de-occupation and reintegration of Crimea: “You have to continue this work, and the return of Crimea is only a matter of time. And it is especially important to remind people of what is happening in Crimea. I would like to continue supporting the Crimean Platform, it is very important.”

We would like to thank the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom for her dedicated and professional work in support of Ukraine and for being with Ukrainians in these extremely difficult times of war. And, of course, we appreciate that in the last days of her stay in Ukraine, Ms Melinda found time to visit the Crimean Platform Office. It is certainly an important diplomatic and political sign. 

We are looking forward to see you in the liberated Bakhchisarai, Ms Melinda!