Political status of Crimea

In a video message to the Fourth Summit of the Crimean Platform Leaders, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan demanded that Russia return control of Crimea to Ukraine, Anadolu Agency reports.

The European Union on Monday said the Russian election has taken place in a highly restricted environment "exacerbated by Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine".

The EU said it regretted the decision of Russian authorities not to invite international observers to its elections.

Türkiye has reiterated that it won't recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea and underlined its support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

The Foreign Ministry issued a written statement "Regarding the Tenth Anniversary of the Illegal Annexation of Crimea" on March 16.

Day 681 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

“In Ukraine, those who are aggressive towards Russia, and in Europe and in the United States – do they want to negotiate? Let them. But we will do it based on our national interests”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has reaffirmed Türkiye's stance against the annexation of Crimea by Russia and pledged solidarity with Ukraine's territorial integrity.

"We express in every platform, especially in the United Nations, that Crimea is a part of Ukraine," Erdoğan stated on Aug. 23, speaking via a video message to attendees of the Third Crimea Platform Summit in Kiev.

"This war is an attack not only on Ukraine, but on the international rules-based order that seeks to defend international peace and stability, and uphold, in the words of the United Nations Charter, "the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small", Blinken pointed out at a virtual panel session on "A Just and Lasting Peace in Ukraine", ahead of tomorrow's opening of the second

The Turkish Foreign Ministry reiterated once again on March 16 Türkiye's position that Ankara does not recognize the "illegal annexation" of Crimea by Russia.

Although in March it voted for the United Nations General Assembly resolution demanding an end to Russian aggression, Turkey did not join the Western sanctions.
At the same time, however, it blocked the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles for the passage of Russian and other military ships into the Black Sea.

Two weeks after his second meeting this summer with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Recep Tayyip Erdogan again demanded that Russia return the annexed Crimea to Ukraine.