The First Vice-Speaker stressed the importance of meetings with international colleagues to discuss the future of Ukraine, particularly the de-occupation of Crimea issue. He emphasized that the war began 11 years ago precisely with the occupation of the peninsula, and its liberation remains one of the key priorities.
Oleksandr Korniienko also noted that the issue of Crimea has been in the spotlight for the past five years — since President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came to power. Constant dialogue with international partners and the creation of the Crimean Platform has allowed this topic to be brought to a qualitatively new level.
According to him, the issue of Ukraine's territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders is critically important and will remain so in the future. "This is our land. Crimea is Ukraine," Oleksandr Korniienko emphasized.
He thanked the parliaments that recognized the deportation of the Crimean Tatars in 1944 as genocide. "Now, in the 21st century, we are once again forced to state that the actions of the Russian Federation have much in common with that tragedy. Entire families of Crimean Tatars are forced to leave their homes due to forced mobilization and repression by the occupying authorities," the First Deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament noted.
Thus, for the second time in its history, the Crimean Tatar people are being brutally persecuted by russia. However, despite this, they remain a free nation, and Crimea is an inseparable part of Ukraine. The peninsula's inhabitants are waiting for the liberation, hoping to return home or live on their land without fear. This hope is strong, especially among the Crimean Tatars.
Oleksandr Korniienko thanked international partners for their unwavering support for Ukraine, particularly for the implementation of initiatives by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Interparliamentary interaction strengthens Ukraine's positions and opens up new opportunities, in particular for protecting the rights of people and territories from brutal invasion and violation of international law.
