Ukraine protests against Putin's visit to occupied Crimea

"Ukraine considers this visit and any so-called trips of Russian officials to the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (Ukraine) a gross violation of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, cynical and demonstrable neglect by the Russian side of generally recognized principles and norms of international law, obligations under bilateral and multilateral treaties to which Ukraine and Russia are parties," reads the statement.

The ministry stressed that the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol are an integral part of Ukraine in its internationally recognized borders. 

"This is recognized by the international community, which has already repeatedly made a proper assessment of the internationally wrongful acts of the Russian Federation by approving respective resolutions of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the OSCE and other international organizations, as well as by imposing sanctions against the Russian Federation as an occupying state," the ministry said.

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