Ukraine’s Vice PM: Russia afraid of negotiating Crimea

The issue of de-occupation and return of Crimea remains a priority for Ukraine in the international negotiations, while Russia avoids discussion of this issue "like the plague."
"Of course, Russia avoids this discussion like the plague, keeps clear of it in every possible way. But we will never remove the issue of Crimea from the agenda, we will never remove it from the list of priority issues during our international contacts," Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Dmytro Kuleba told an Ukrinform correspondent in Washington, D.C.

At the same time he specified that the Ukrainian side built its stance upon a number of key theses in the issue of Crimean peninsula.

"First and foremost, Crimea is Ukraine and none of civilized countries recognizes its affiliation with the Russian Federation. But this is not enough, we cannot stay with statement of the fact, we need to work on developing specific mechanisms," the Vice Prime Minister said.

According to him, first, a mechanism for protecting human rights in the peninsula should be elaborated. Second, it is necessary to make the Russian Federation as an occupying power fulfill its obligations towards the occupied territory. And, third, it is necessary to develop the ways for de-occupation of the peninsula, Kuleba said.

Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Dmytro Kuleba currently makes a visit to the United States, holding a number of meetings at the Congress and the Administration.