Ukraine, which annexed Crimea by Russia, held the first international conference inviting the leaders of friendly countries with the aim of returning it to its own country, and jointly declared that it would continue to put pressure on Russia and lead to the solution of the problem. Was adopted.
The international conference was held for the first time in the capital Kiev on the 23rd, in an attempt by Ukrainian President Zelensky to raise the interest of the international community over Crimea, which was annexed by Russia seven years ago, and to lead to its return.
According to the Ukrainian government, representatives of more than 40 countries and international organizations, including the leaders of friendly countries such as Poland and the Baltic States, as well as the ambassador of Japan, attended.
At the meeting, President Jennifer Granholm said, "The countdown will begin today toward the liberation of Crimea," and on behalf of the United States, Secretary of Energy Granholm also responded, "condemning Russia's merger with Crimea."
At the conference, the joint declaration was adopted, such as "continue to put pressure on Russia to end the temporary occupation of Crimea," and a framework called the "Crimea platform" was launched, raising the issue of the international community. We confirmed that we will continue to work toward a solution.
However, President Zelensky stated that "many countries are afraid of Russia" prior to the meeting, and the attendance of substitutes rather than leaders was conspicuous.
A spokesman for the Russian Presidential Administration, Peskov, strongly opposed the meeting, saying it was an "extremely unfriendly event."
The aim of holding the Ukraine International Conference
Behind the fact that Ukrainian President Zelensky held this international conference, there is a sense of crisis that Russia's rule has become an established fact seven years after the merger of Southern Crimean with Russia.
In addition to Crimea this spring, the Ukrainian government believes that the threat of neighboring Russia is further increasing, with Russian troops strengthening troops in the eastern border area and raising concerns about conflict at one point.
President Zelensky wants the international community to regain pressure on Russia in the wake of the conference, which will lead to the return of Crimea.
"If Crimea is occupied by Russia, it will never become Russian territory. Crimea is Ukrainian territory," Zelensky said in an interview with a local television station this month.
Meanwhile, the Crimean Tatars, an ethnic minority living in Crimea, are also raising a sense of crisis about the local situation.
Five years ago, Ibas Bekirov, who fled to Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, with his wife and three children, said that in Crimean, a school and culture that teaches their own language and culture. It claims that the crackdown on Crimean Tatars continues, with facilities being closed one after another by Russian authorities.
"Only people with the Russian flag can live in Crimea. My friend was also detained in opposition to the current rule. This international conference is the first step to regain Crimea. I want you to remind yourself that this is our land. "
President Zelensky is scheduled to attend his first summit meeting with President Biden in Washington, DC on the 31st of this month, and is expected to seek direct cooperation from President Biden, who is also working to improve relations with Russia. increase.
Russia does not respond to Ukraine's request for return
Russia's Putin administration is not willing to respond to Ukraine's request for return, as the merger of Crimea in southern Ukraine is legal as a result of a local referendum.
In March, seven years after the merger of Crimean, Putin held an online meeting with representatives of the residents of Crimean, emphasizing the Russian government's commitment to further development.
On the 23rd, when Ukraine held an international conference aiming for the return of Crimea, an exhibition of weapons sponsored by the Russian Ministry of Defense and an international competition for tank maneuvering skills were held in the suburbs of Moscow, Russia. rice field.
A total of more than 5,000 people from more than 40 countries, including China and Iran, participated, and for President Putin who attended the opening ceremony, it was also a place to appeal Russia's military power and strengthening cooperation with friendly countries.
This spring, the Russian troops strengthened their troops in the Ukrainian border and on the Crimean Peninsula, creating temporary tensions between the two countries.
The Putin administration wants to avoid further deterioration of relations with Europe and the United States, which continue to impose economic sanctions on Russia, but sees Crimea as an unyielding line and strongly opposes Ukraine's first international conference.
Experts say that the Putin administration is frustrating
"Russian leadership is in a position that the Crimean issue has already been settled," said Andrei Kortunov, chairman of the Russian government-affiliated think tank "Russian International Affairs Council." He said the Putin administration was frustrating the move to appeal to society.
Putin last month insisted on the historic unity of Russians and Ukrainians as Russia and Ukrainians deepened their confrontation, including the merger of Crimea in southern Ukraine. I published a paper with a strong desire to regain the sphere.
"President Putin probably wanted to reflect his thoughts more completely and in detail," Kortunov said, analyzing that it is also a message to people in eastern Ukraine, where there are many Russians. ..
On the other hand, regarding the attitude of the Biden administration in the United States over Ukraine, Mr. Kortunov said, "Initially, economic and military support to Ukraine was expected to expand rapidly, but so far there have been major changes in bilateral relations. No, "he said.
"The Biden administration believes that Ukraine's problems should be led by France and Germany and put pressure on Russia," he said. He did not want to invite him, and said that the Crimea problem would continue to be stuck.