The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a resolution calling on international organizations, political blocs and parliamentary assemblies to increase sanctions pressure on Russia and continue the policy of not recognizing the status of Crimea. The document was addressed to the UN, the European Parliament and parliamentary assemblies of the Council of Europe, NATO, the OSCE, as well as other organizations and blocs.

In the document, Ukrainian parliamentarians are asking for additional measures in the framework of the policy of "non-recognition of the attempt to annex the Crimea."

Moreover, it is proposed to introduce international monitoring of full compliance with these measures, as well as increase pressure on Russia as an “aggressor state”. To restore the sovereignty of Ukraine, all available economic, political and sanctions mechanisms should be applied, the statement says.

The document says that Russia allegedly continues to increase the militarization of Crimea, and also infringes on the rights of Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians on the peninsula.

The Verkhovna Rada asks international organizations to demand from Moscow to stop the alleged violation of human rights in Crimea and insist on compliance with international humanitarian law.

Ukrainian deputies, among other things, propose raising the issue of restoring Ukraine’s state sovereignty over Crimea and Sevastopol, as well as the adjacent waters of the Azov and Black Seas during all negotiations with Russia at the highest level.

As Vladimir Shapovalov, deputy director of the Institute of History and Politics of the Moscow State Pedagogical University, noted in an interview with RT, there is nothing new in the voiced appeal.

“Ukraine constantly takes such a position. The current president and his party, which dominates the Verkhovna Rada, went to power as peacekeepers, but in the end they continued the strategy of Petro Poroshenko and the Euromaidan coalition, the expert said. 

Measures and countermeasures

Recall that the Crimean peninsula became part of Russia after the events of 2014 in Ukraine, when power changed in the country as a result of a coup.

The decision was made following the results of a nationwide referendum, in which more than 80% of the inhabitants of the peninsula participated. More than 95% of Crimean residents voted for reunion with Russia. Despite the results of the referendum, Kiev denies the right of Crimeans to self-determination and refuses to recognize the island as part of Russia.

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The reunification of Crimea with the Russian Federation also led to a deterioration in relations between Moscow and Western countries. The United States and the European Union imposed economic sanctions against the Russian side, which automatically extend over several years. In response, Moscow adopted its package of restrictive measures, mainly directed against food imports from EU countries.

These counter-sanctions markedly reduced the profits of European producers and exporters - recently, some countries that have been hit hardest by Moscow’s retaliation are urging the EU to weaken or lift the sanctions regime against Russia.

Restrictions do not have any effect on Russia, whose economy has long adapted to restrictions, Vladimir Shapovalov said.

“Moreover, the sanctions regime gave positive points, in particular, it allowed the Russian economy to gain competitive advantages in the context of a pandemic and the impending global economic crisis. At the same time, the sanctions regime places a heavy burden not only on the Ukrainian economy, but also on the economies of European countries, ”the political scientist said in an interview with RT.

Shapovalov recalled that European states have recently been increasingly in contact with Russia. For example, Austria and Germany, developing the Nord Stream 2 gas project.

“There is also political evidence of a partial rejection of the sanctions regime, for example, the return of the Russian delegation to PACE. Today in Europe there are more and more anti-sanction sentiments, desires to normalize relations with Russia, ”the analyst explained.

According to Vladimir Shapovalov, "the position that Ukraine takes in relation to the Crimea is a dead end and unpromising." The expert recalled that Russia is not just a fraternal people for Ukraine, but also the most important economic, cultural partner, and such appeals do not benefit bilateral relations.

“Even now, in the conditions of deteriorating relations, a significant part of the budget of Ukraine is formed at the expense of funds received by Ukrainians working in the Russian territory from economic relations, such as the transit of Russian hydrocarbons,” the political scientist noted.

Fixed position

The Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly raised the issue of the peninsula's ownership from the very moment of its entry into the Russian Federation. So, the current president of the country, Vladimir Zelensky, at the end of February this year, declared that the return of the Crimea is the national idea of ​​Ukraine.

“I would like to start with simple, obvious things ... A week consists of seven days. The planet Earth is round, and Crimea is Ukraine ... The return of Crimea is an integral part of the Ukrainian national idea, ”Zelensky said.

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The Russian authorities also repeatedly noted that the March 2014 referendum was held in full compliance with international standards, and therefore the issue of Crimea’s membership is closed.

Political blackmail

The Verkhovna Rada accepted its appeal on the eve of the talks in Berlin, where the Ukrainian delegation was waiting for a visit. Obviously, Kiev aimed at blackmailing the German side, said Vladimir Shapovalov.

“On the eve of the negotiation process, the Ukrainian authorities, as she thinks, put forward deliberately radical, impossible requirements in order to get a strong position. In fact, Ukraine cannot have any strong position in negotiations with Germany by definition, nevertheless, Ukrainian politicians for some reason are sure that such blackmail can achieve results. They won’t succeed, it’s a simple, primitive diplomatic game, ”the political scientist noted.

Governments and parliaments of the states of the world are able, without a statement from the Ukrainian Rada, to take a decision on strengthening or easing sanctions, said, in turn, in a conversation with RT deputy director of the Institute of CIS countries Vladimir Zharikhin.

“This activity of the Rada is needed now in order to demonstrate its concern, to remind ourselves. Especially now, when economic problems displaced Ukraine from the international agenda. Now the Ukrainian issue is not the main one that worries parliamentarians around the world, ”he stressed.

In the current difficult economic situation, the main world economies will be preoccupied with the political support of Ukraine, Vladimir Zharikhin noted.

“This is a purely declarative action on the part of the Verkhovna Rada, which will not lead to anything real,” the expert concluded.