The Crimean Platform Summit has started in Kiev. It will be attended by 46 countries and international organizations

In Kiev, the inaugural summit “Crimean Platform” began, participation in which was confirmed by 46 countries and international organizations. About it informs Interfax-Ukraine.

All the countries of the European Union (EU) and NATO, the full G7 countries, the Lublin Triangle (Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland), the Associated Trio (Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova) and the Normandy format countries (except for Russia) are taking part in the Crimean Platform Summit …

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that all countries, regardless of the level of representation, can join the adoption of the main document of the summit – the Crimean Declaration.

The opening ceremony began with a performance by the Crimean Tatar singer Jamala, after which the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky made a welcoming speech. He said that the issue of the occupation of Crimea by Russia for the first time will be considered at such a high level, and Ukraine will do everything possible to return the peninsula.

According to Zelensky, the annexation of Crimea calls into question the effectiveness of the international security system. “Crimea was a guarantee of international stability, and now it is a powder keg,” he said.

Initially, it was planned to launch the “Crimean Platform” in May this year – on the anniversary of the deportation of the Crimean Tatars in 1944. But in the end, they decided to postpone the grand opening until August and combine the launch of the platform with the celebration of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence on August 24.

Earlier it was reported that German Chancellor Angela Merkel will visit Kiev exactly one day before the summit, accept the Order of Freedom from Zelensky’s hands and fly away without waiting for the opening of the event.

Delegations from Azerbaijan and China are also missing from the list of confirmed guests.