Parliamentarians from 51 countries reaffirmed Ukraine’s territorial integrity: Key moments from the Second Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimean Platform

The Second Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimean Platform saw participant representatives from 51 countries of the world. Nine of these countries were represented by both chambers of parliament, and there were also delegates from 6 international organizations. The total number of participants this year was 66.

According to the Crimean Platform, representatives of the Parliamentary Assemblies of the Council of Europe, NATO, and the OSCE, the European Parliament, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, also held speeches at the summit.

This year’s participants included representatives of:

• The Czech Republic,
• Ukraine,
• The Republic of Croatia,
• Germany,
• The French Republic,
• Turkey,
• Canada,
• Spain,
• The United States of America,
• Austria,
• Belgium,
• The Republic of Cyprus,
• Japan,
• The Republic of Estonia,
• The Republic of Finland,
• The Republic of Iceland,
• The Republic of Ireland,
• The Republic of Latvia,
• Australia,
• The Principality of Liechtenstein,
• The Republic of Moldova,
• The Republic of North Macedonia,
• The Kingdom of Norway,
• The Republic of Bulgaria,
• The Republic of Poland,
• Romania,
• The Swiss Confederation,
• New Zealand,
• The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
• The Republic of Italy,
• Costa Rica,
• Guinea-Bissau,
• Bosnia and Herzegovina,
• Georgia,
• The Republic of Ghana,
• Greece,
• The Republic of Hungary,
• The Republic of Lithuania,
• Malta,
• Portugal,
• The Republic of Slovenia,
• The Kingdom of Sweden,
• Malaysia,
• Sierra Leone,
• The Republic of Albania,
• The Republic of Serbia,
• The State of Israelі Although the delegation was unable to attend the summit, the Knesset sent an official letter requesting Israel to be considered a summit participant..

Two more countries joined to the International Crimean Platform – Ghana and Sierra Leone.

During the Second Parliamentary Summit, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that pro-Ukrainian sentiment in Crimea is becoming more and more visible despite Russia’s ongoing occupation of the territory.

“Just like in all other occupied areas of Ukraine, people in Crimea realize Russia will eventually depart, and they are eagerly waiting for Ukraine,” the President of Ukraine elaborated.

Cyprus, Lithuania, Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other permanent representatives reaffirmed their commitment to the territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders of 1991. They underlined the misperception of Crimea as a Russian military base and a sacred place for imperialism.

Tamila Tasheva, the Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, noted that Crimea is first and foremost a place where people, including indigenous communities, who bear the root “Crimea” in their identity, live but cannot reside in their homeland while it remains under Russian occupation.

Marketa Pekarova Adamova, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, in the news conference after the summit pointed out that Ukraine is not only defending its own country but also preventing the spread of Russian aggression to other nations.

Marketa Pekarova Adamova

“The main message of the second parliamentary summit of the International Crimea Platform is that we stand united by Ukraine. And we will stand united as long as needed. Because what is at stake is peace also in other parts of the world… We will continue helping and supporting Ukraine until the very last moment, until the whole territory, sovereign territory of Ukraine is fully returned to Ukraine. Because there are no doubts that Crimea is Ukraine, and we want to reach a situation that Crimea is liberated, just like all the other parts of Ukraine where they’re currently fighting,” Marketa Pekarova Adamova said.

Adamova emphasized that Russia and Belarus bear responsibility for the abduction and “brainwashing” of four thousand Ukrainian children.

At the end of the plenary session, a Joint Declaration was signed by the participants of the summit, affirming the territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, including Crimea and Sevastopol, as well as assurance of the sovereignty of Ukraine as necessary preconditions for ending the war and establishing lasting peace in the region.

Through the Joint Declaration, the Summit participants expressed their intention to support the provision of political, diplomatic, military, security, financial, humanitarian and other forms of assistance to Ukraine and support Ukraine on its path toward EU membership.

It intends to maintain and effectively implement sanctions against Russia while actively countering any attempts to circumvent these sanctions. The document also contains a call on all the actors and stakeholders to bring the perpetrators to justice.