DISINFO: Russia did not annex Crimea
SUMMARY
Russia did not annex Crimea but simply responded to the call of its inhabitants, who had found themselves in immediate danger of annihilation.
RESPONSE
A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative masking the 2014 invasion and the illegal annexation of Crimea.
Crimea is an internationally recognised part of Ukraine. Іn 1997, by signing the Friendship Agreement with Ukraine, Russia also recognised that Crimea belongs to Ukraine.
No international body recognises the so-called referendum in Crimea. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution titled “Territorial integrity of Ukraine”, stating that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and declaring 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 2021, 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 2022.