Finland condemns opening of Russia’s rail link with annexed Crimea

"Finland’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders is firm," reads the report on Twitter.

Finland’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders is firm. https://t.co/uXlt2Hln4w

— Ulkoministeriö (@Ulkoministerio) December 23, 2019

Earlier, European Commission’s Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano condemned the construction of the railway section of the Kerch Bridge. “This constitutes another violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity by Russia. The railway link is yet another step towards a forced integration of the illegally-annexed peninsula with Russia and Crimea´s isolation from Ukraine of which it remains a part,” he said.

Furthermore, the bridge limits the passage of vessels through the Kerch Strait to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea. The European Union expects Russia to ensure unhindered and free passage through the Kerch strait, in accordance with international law.

As Ukrinform reported, on December 23, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry expressed its protest in connection with Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to the temporarily occupied Crimea and the opening of the railway part of the so-called "Crimean bridge".

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