Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) sharply criticized Russia’s annexation of the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in 2014 and promises Kiev continued support in the fight for the country’s territorial integrity. “Russia’s illegal annexations of Ukrainian territories are null and void,” she said in a recorded video message shown at the Crimea International Platform meeting in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev on Wednesday evening. She emphasized: “We want Ukraine to win this war – and achieve peace.”
The occupations are “a direct attack on the United Nations Charter and on international law, which we will never accept – and which will not go unpunished,” assured Baerbock. Since the start of the Russian war in Ukraine, Germany has provided more than 22 billion euros in bilateral assistance. “Germany will continue this support as long as necessary. All of us gathered at this conference will stand by your side as long as necessary.”
The Crimean meeting bears witness to “the unshakable commitment of Ukraine’s partners and friends.”