Illegal annexation of Crimea has to end – Mogherini

The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, said this in an interview with UNIAN.

"There is no change to our very clear EU policy as regards relations with Russia: for any substantive change, the Minsk agreements need to be fully implemented and the illegal annexation of Crimea has to end. This is the first of five principles that currently drive our relations with Russia, agreed unanimously by all EU governments," Mogherini said.

According to her, the economic sanctions are also linked to this outcome. "The visits of some politicians to the illegally annexed peninsula do not reflect our common position and should not cast any doubt over our commitment to Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. By international law, Crimea is Ukraine," the EU High Representative emphasized.

According to Mogherini, among the five principles there is also selective engagement with Russia on topics where there is a clear EU interest to restart the Middle East Peace Process, preserve the nuclear deal with Iran, denuclearise the Korean peninsula, find a political solution to the war in Syria. "It's important that these contacts continue while at the same time we are clear in our expectation that Russia meets its international obligations and respects international law, including on eastern Ukraine and Crimea and Sevastopol," she said.