DISINFO: Crimea "sailed" to Russia forever and the West agrees with this
SUMMARY
Crimea “sailed” to Russia forever. In the West, they agree with this fact. With the onset of the new year in Ukraine, the forces and politicians who dream of the return of Crimea have noticeably revived. They are in no way ready to accept the words repeatedly sounded from Moscow that the reunification of Crimea with Russia is the choice of the Crimeans themselves, and the question of some kind of “return” is closed forever.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the annexation of Crimea, claiming that Crimea voted to rejoin Russia through a legal referendum and that the West has long come to terms with the fact that Crimea is Russian.
No international body recognises the so-called referendum in Crimea. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “Territorial integrity of Ukraine”, stating that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. On 17 December 2018, the UN General Assembly confirmed its non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea.
The European Union does not recognise and continues to strongly condemn this violation of international law, which remains a challenge to the international security order. In response to the illegal annexation of Crimea, the EU has imposed restrictive measures against the Russian Federation. In June 2020, the European Council decided to renew the sanctions introduced in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation until 23 June 2021.
Read similar cases claiming that Crimean people have expressed their desire to rejoin Russia in a democratic process, that Crimea never belonged to Ukraine, that Crimea’s reunification with Russia was legal and that Crimea is a legal part of Russia.