DISINFO: The West, in fact, recognised that Crimea belongs to Russia
SUMMARY
West separated the topic of Crimea from the “Ukrainian question”. It means, that Western countries, in fact, recognised that the peninsula belongs to Russia.
RESPONSE
The narrative is linked to the topic of Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 20214.
The EU, the US, and other Western countries, as well as international organisations, have a clear position about the status of Crimea as a part of Ukraine and it has not changed.
No international body has recognised the so-called Crimea referendum, announced on 27 February 2014, and held on 16 March 2014. On 27 March 2014, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in which it stated that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. On 17 December 2018, the UN General Assembly confirmed 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.
See other cases of disinformation about the illegal annexation of Crimea: Crimea become part of Russia after a referendum; Joining Russia saved Crimea from bloodshed; As a result of the Ukrainian coup, Crimea returns to Russia.