Ukraine demands that Russia stop its aggression, respect international law and liberate the temporarily occupied territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, as well as parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, according to a statement released by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on the occasion of the 7th anniversary of the beginning of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine.
The ministry said that the illegal attempt to annex the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, as well as the further beginning of the armed conflict in Donbas, were the stages in implementing Russia's plan to destroy Ukrainian statehood.
In addition, Russia's aggression against Ukraine has dramatically changed the geopolitical situation in Europe and around the world, and the authority of international law and the entire system of European and world security has been seriously undermined, Ukrainian diplomats said.
"We call on the international community to increase political and sanctions pressure on Russia to force the Russian authorities to de-occupy the occupied Ukrainian territories, release captives and political prisoners, and enforce international judgments. We are convinced that joint efforts, including within the Crimean Platform, will help not only restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine but also strengthen the authority of international law and return peace and stability to the European continent. The Russian Federation will bear full responsibility for all crimes committed against Ukraine and its citizens," the statement reads.
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