First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko took part in the third international conference “Crimea Global. Understanding Ukraine through the South,” dedicated to Ukraine's strategy for the return of Crimea and cooperation with international partners in this direction. Experts, journalists, human rights activists, and cultural figures from Ukraine and countries of the Global South gathered for a frank discussion about war, post-colonial traumas, freedom, and common paths of resistance, as well as to better understand Ukraine's inseparable connection with Crimea.
This year's sessions addressed topics that ranged from new technologies of war to the role of women in combating violence and the impact of colonial legacies on global politics. Representatives from Asia, Africa, and Latin America—including Congo, Kenya, Mexico, India, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Nepal, Myanmar, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, and Syria—together with Ukrainian speakers discussed how to combine the experiences of resistance, memory, and recovery.
Participants of the panels also discussed in detail russia’s new methods of waging war against civilians in Ukraine, the situation with journalists in war zones, russia’s recruitment of foreign nationals to participate in the war, the biased perception of Crimea shaped by russia’s colonial myths, as well as ways to engage Latin America in supporting international justice. Special attention at the conference was devoted to securing the release of prisoners and the return of Ukrainian children deported by russia.
During his remarks at the first panel of the conference, titled «Ukraine and the Global World: Successful Practices and How to Scale Them Up», the First Deputy Speaker emphasized the importance of international dialogue — particularly with countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America — to promote the truth about Ukraine’s experience and to counter russia’s occupation.
According to him, Ukraine is actively informing the international community about the cultural and humanitarian consequences of the occupation, including the persecution of Crimean Tatars and the unlawful detention of civilians. «We maintain an active dialogue with countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and I have personally held dozens of interparliamentary meetings. We explain what is really happening — russia’s aggression on our territory, the crimes committed, the suffering of civilians. We also discuss food security, the expansion of cooperation, and opportunities driven by the economy and technology,» Oleksandr Korniienko noted. He emphasized the importance of drawing global attention not only to Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, but also to the anti-colonial nature of Ukraine’s resistance and the broader global impact of the conflict, including its implications for food security.
He urged for vigorous discussion of international initiatives, stronger support for justice mechanisms, and reform of global institutions to uphold international law and ensure accountability for Ukraine and its partners. Oleksandr Korniienko underscored the importance of restoring Ukrainian control over Crimea and highlighted the symbolic role of the Crimea Platform, which the Verkhovna Rada continues to develop in the parliamentary dimension. «We clearly understand that the war that began with Crimea must end with Crimea’s full return under Ukraine’s control. One day, we will certainly hold this conference in a free Ukrainian Bakhchysarai or Yalta,» he underlined.
The conference
reaffirmed the importance of unified international efforts to defend Ukraine,
its territorial integrity, and its sovereignty. It also underscored the need to
strengthen global solidarity, uphold human rights, and advance international
cooperation in countering aggression and colonial practices.