The European Union has strongly reacted against Russia’s illegal recruitment of young people from Crimea and Sevastopol city into the Russian army, calling it a violation of international law.
According to the statement issued by the Union, Russia continues to campaign to deliberately and disproportionately use Crimean Tatars in its war of aggression against their own homeland, Ukraine.
This action by Russia as a permanent member of the Security Council and a member state of the United Nations is a violation of human rights and a failure to protect the rights of its citizens.
The European Union once again clarified that it does not recognize the annexation of the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, as well as the other regions of Ukraine, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson, to Russia. They are and will remain the same.
The statement added that the European Union continues to support the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
The Union further called on Russia to stop all violations of international law and to immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its troops and equipment from all areas of Ukraine.