The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and the Foreign Ministers of Belgium Sophie Wilmès, the Netherlands Steph Block, and the Luxembourg Jean Asselborn expressed a common opinion on the inadmissibility of the increase of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border, as they pose a threat to European security and stability.
Kyiv. Ukraine. Ukraine Gate – May 8, 2021 – Forums and Conferences
Today in Kyiv the Ukrainian head of state met with Wilmès, Blok, and Asselborn.
In particular, the head of state thanked the ministers for starting their visit to Ukraine on a trip to Donbas on their own initiative.
“I think it is important not to know what is happening there, but to see everything with your own eyes. I know that you were in the city of Happiness in the Luhansk region. You saw how we feel about Donbas. We invest in infrastructure,” He remarked.
Zelensky stressed that it is important not only to resolve the issue of de-occupation of the temporarily occupied territory of Donbas but also to make sure that those who live in this territory cross the contact line “feel like people.”
The President briefed the ministers in detail on the security situation in Donbas, as well as on the steps Ukraine is taking to achieve peace.
High-ranking Benelux officials praised Ukraine’s consistent adherence to the ceasefire in Donbas.
The President praised the unchanging position of the Benelux countries in support of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as practical assistance in maintaining national security.
In connection with the increase of the Russian armed forces on the borders of Ukraine, the interlocutors expressed a common opinion on the inadmissibility of such actions, as they pose a threat to European security and stability.
Zelensky called on the Benelux countries to support the European integration aspirations of the Ukrainian state, in particular by signing declarations on Ukraine’s European perspective.
The participants of the meeting also discussed the issues of the Crimean Platform. The President confirmed the invitation to the leadership of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg to take part in the inaugural summit of the Crimean Platform on August 23-24 in Kyiv.
On September 23, 2020, during a debate at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, Zelensky called on partners to join the international platform for the de-occupation of Crimea.
In December, he said that the creation of the “Crimean Platform” had already been supported in Europe and North America.
In March, the Russian Federation, in the guise of preparing for exercises, brought dozens of battalion tactical groups, military equipment, Su-25SMZ attack aircraft, and ships of the Caspian military flotilla to the occupied Crimea and to the borders of Ukraine.
On April 22, in the occupied Crimea, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said he had decided to complete a “surprise inspection” of Russian troops in Russia’s Western and Southern military districts near Ukraine’s borders because “all goals have been achieved.”
On May 6, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia had withdrawn only 3,500 of the tens of thousands of troops it had deployed on Ukraine’s borders and temporarily occupied territories from the occupied Crimea.
In addition, since April 24, Russia has blocked access to three areas of the Black Sea off the coast of occupied Crimea for foreign warships and state vessels. The restrictions will run until October 31.
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Source: Ukrgate