The Ukrainian authorities have different approaches to resolving the issues of liberation of the occupied territories of Donbas and the annexed Crimea, which makes the international community to think about the minor importance of the peninsula. This was stated by the Head of Kyiv city organization of UKROP, the Chairman of the Board of “Maidan of Foreign Affairs” Fund Bohdan Yaremenko on the air of “Radio Svoboda”.
“We have two fragments of one war, the Crimea and Donbas, but for some reason we have different approaches to them. With such actions Ukraine makes its sympathizers and antipathies to think that peninsula has a minor significance for it,” said the politician.
A former diplomat has noted that the issue of Donbas de-occupation is actively discussed, although not always efficiently, at large forums and during negotiations within Normandy and Minsk formats. At the same time, the liberation of the Crimea is almost not discussed at the international arena.
Moreover, even in the draft law “On the peculiarities of state policy and ensuring the state sovereignty of Ukraine on the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions” adopted in the first reading, the Crimea is only briefly mentioned.
The document does not provide any social guarantees to the residents of the annexed peninsula, unlike citizens living in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
According to the representative of UKROP, Ukraine has been trading the Crimea since the declaration of independence as it allowed the Russian Federation to deploy its military bases on the peninsula in exchange for cheap gas.
“We are very often inconsistent and thus show our opponents and friends some false maneuvers and perceptions of Ukraine’s real position,” emphasized Bohdan Yaremenko.
According to him, to return the territories it is not enough to officially recognize Russia as an aggressor. The Ukrainian authorities should comply with the requirements of the national legislation and impose martial law, at least in the occupied areas.
In addition, the Law of Ukraine “On Defense” requires the formation of the General Headquarters and mobilization of all resources to repel the armed aggression.
