Ukrainian President calls on G7 to condemn and not recognize Russian presidential elections in annexed Crimea
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called on G7 countries to condemn and not recognize the Russian presidential elections in the annexed Crimea, which will take place on March 18, as reported on the president’s website.
“I would like to discuss the Russian elections of March 18. It would be critically important for us to have your firm statement that you will condemn and not recognize the Russian elections in Crimea,” Poroshenko said during a meeting with ambassadors from the G7 countries.
The President also addressed the head of the EU Delegation in Ukraine, Hugues Mingarelli, who was present at the meeting, and thanked him and the Vice-President of the European Commission for the position of the EU on this issue.
“It is also important that you don’t allow your citizens to visit Crimea with the purpose of monitoring the elections,” said Poroshenko.
He added that he was speaking specifically about representatives from France, Austria, and Finland.
“This could destroy the ‘single voice’ policy with regard to the elections in Crimea,” Poroshenko said.
Earlier, Poroshenko stated that Ukraine does not recognize the Russian presidential elections in the territory of the annexed Crimea and will impose sanctions on the organizers. He called on the EU to do the same.
A day earlier, the Ministry of the Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine urged Crimean citizens to not participate in the elections.