Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on the occasion of the eighth anniversary of the resolution of the UN General Assembly "Territorial Integrity of Ukraine"

Eight years ago, on March 27, 2014, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution "Territorial Integrity of Ukraine".

In response to Russia's blatant violation of fundamental principles and norms of international law through its armed aggression against Ukraine, UN member states protested by overwhelming 100 votes, declaring illegal a pseudo-referendum on Crimea's status, clearly reaffirming the sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

We are grateful to our partners, who have all these years pursued a policy of non-

recognition and condemned Russia's actions aimed at legitimizing the annexation of the Crimean peninsula. Unfortunately, this did not stop the Kremlin from its aggressive expansionary attempt to seize all of Ukraine.

Unable to force Ukraine to relinquish part of its territories and sovereignty, on February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation launched a full-scale war against our state.

Ukraine's territorial integrity remains an inviolable principle from which we will not deviate under any circumstances. In today's world, forcible appropriation of land and change of borders by force is unacceptable and cannot be justified.

The world community's rejection of such actions was confirmed by the unprecedented support of Ukraine, recorded in two resolutions of the UN General Assembly "Aggression against Ukraine" of March 2, 2022 and "Humanitarian consequences of aggression against Ukraine" of March 24, 2022, which reaffirmed commitment to sovereignty and independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters.

These important documents condemn further escalation of Russia's aggression against our country in violation of Article 2 of the UN Charter, demand from the Kremlin to immediately stop using force against Ukraine and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces from our country.

Ukraine continues to fight for its sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, exercising the right to self-defense in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter. Our state is also taking all possible political and diplomatic measures to counter Russian aggression, protect the rights of Ukrainian citizens, restore its territorial integrity and ensure full compensation from Russia for the damage caused by its illegal actions.

We are grateful to the international community for Ukraine's unwavering support!

Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!