New Delhi: The Council of the European Union extended sanctions against Crimea and Sevastopol, originally introduced in June 2014 as part of the community’s strategy to not recognize the peninsula joining Russia, for another 12 months, according to a statement published on Monday.
“The Council has today decided to renew the sanctions introduced by the EU in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation, until 23 June 2023,” the statement said.
According to the EU Council, “As stated by Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in his Declaration on behalf of the EU on 25 February 2022, eight years since the violent, illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation, the EU does not recognize and continues to condemn the illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula as a serious violation of international law.”
In February and March 2014, Russia invaded and subsequently annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine. This event took place in the aftermath of the Revolution of Dignity and is part of the wider Russo-Ukrainian War.
Since Russian control over Crimea was established in 2014, the peninsula has been administered as part of the Russian Federation (except for the northern areas of the Arabat Spit and the Syvash, which were controlled by Ukraine until Russian occupation resumed in February 2022).
(Vinayak)