Ukraine’s territorial integrity is not only a matter of borders. Above all, it concerns security, the rights of Ukrainian citizens, the ability to live freely, preserve and express one’s identity, and exercise civic, socio-economic, and political rights. It is also a matter of protecting the rights of Ukraine’s Indigenous Peoples — the Crimean Tatars, Karaites, and Krymchaks — who historically formed on the territory of Crimea and for whom the peninsula is their ancestral homeland.
A violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity sets a dangerous precedent for the entire world. It gives a free hand not only to the Russian Federation but also to others who wish to redraw borders by force, in breach of international law.
The occupation of Crimea in 2014 marked the first attempt at annexation since the Second World War. Recognising its consequences and the so-called «accession» of other temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to the Russian Federation would undermine the foundations of the international order, which guarantees the sovereignty and independence of all states.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stressed that the state’s position remains unchanged:
“The answer to the Ukrainian territorial question already is in the Constitution of Ukraine, no one will deviate from this – and no one will be able to. Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.”
Ukraine seeks peace, and our people have the right to live without war. But peace must be fair and safe for all citizens of Ukraine, including representatives of the Indigenous peoples, who face particular pressure and persecution under the occupation of Crimea. This war will only end when Russia, which started it and is deliberately prolonging it, ceases its aggression. The problem is not with Ukraine, but with the occupier. Ukraine is open to solutions that will truly bring peace, but no agreement reached without Ukraine or against its interests will have any force. True peace must be built on justice, respect for international law, and the will of the Ukrainian people — only then will it be lasting.