DISINFO: European leaders have accepted the loss of Crimea
SUMMARY
European leaders, who create the political climate in the world, have accepted that Crimea is lost and never mention it in meetings any longer.
RESPONSE
The EU has reconfirmed the non-recognition policy for Crimea in declarations by the High Representative on behalf of the EU of 16 March 2015, 18 March 2016 and 18 March 2017. Whenever Russia refers to Crimea and Sevastopol as part of the Russian Federation in multilateral fora, such as the UN, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and WTO, the EU makes a statement in response to remind the world that it does not recognize the illegal annexation. On June 19, 2017, the European Council extended the restrictive measures in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia until 23 June 2018. The sanctions include prohibitions on imports of products originating in Crimea or Sevastopol into the EU; investment and tourism services in Crimea or Sevastopol; exports of certain goods and technologies to Crimean companies, as well as technical assistance, construction or engineering services related to infrastructure. On August 4, 2017, the European Union imposed sanctions on three Russian nationals and two companies after gas turbines sold by Germany’s Siemens were diverted to Ukraine’s Russian-annexed Crimea region. Read more: eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage_en/22959/The%20EU%20non-recognition%20policy%20for%20Crimea%20and%20Sevastopol:%20Fact%20Sheet,