The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stated that compromises on the territorial status of Crimea are unacceptable. The comment was made after Radoslaw Szykorski, the Polish foreign minister, proposed holding a referendum on the Ukrainian peninsula occupied by Russia, Ukrainska pravda reported.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the territorial integrity of Ukraine "has never been and cannot be subject to discussion or compromise" and this is supported both by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the country's partners, as well as by international law.
"Crimea is the center of gravity of Europe's security architecture. Its restoration is possible only after the complete liberation of the entire territory of Ukraine, including the Ukrainian peninsula," the statement said.
The Ministry expressed an expectation of support from partners to force Russia to withdraw from Crimea and bring it to justice for violations of international law and crimes committed.
„All efforts should be directed to achieving these goals as soon as possible, and not to satisfying in one way or another the appetites of the Kremlin at the expense of the interests of Ukraine and international law,”, the foreign ministry said.
According to Shikorsky, Russia and Ukraine will not be able to reach an agreement on the status of Crimea, but “we could put it under a UN mandate with a mission to prepare a fair referendum after checking who are the legal residents and so on.. .And we can put it off for 20 years." The international community, including Poland, does not recognize Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.