The anti-Russia sanctions should be retained unless Crimea's occupation is stopped, First Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Andrii Parubii said at the meeting with Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office David Lidington during his visit to London.
"The sanctions were introduced against Russia for the annexation of Crimea. Thus, it is impossible to speak about lifting the sanctions unless Russia stops Crimea's occupation," he noted.
David Lidington confirmed permanence of the Britain's support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and assured of the European and Euro-Atlantic strivings to support our state and the course of introduction of reforms in Ukraine.
At the meeting with Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport John Whittingdale, Andrii Parubii thanked him for his personal support in release of Oleh Sentsov, as well as for Britain's support of Ukraine's efforts to release all illegally-arrested Ukrainian citizens from Russia's captivity.
The violation of rights and freedoms by the occupation authorities of Crimea was the major topic of the meetings with British parliamentarians.
First Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Andrii Parubii invited the British parliamentarians to Ukraine.
During his working visit to London on October 21-23, Parubii also met with representatives of the Ukrainian community there.