27 March 2017 marks the third anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations General Assembly resolution "Territorial Integrity of Ukraine” (68/262).

The international community thereby reaffirmed the need for strict compliance by States with their obligations under international law, and its commitment to the sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. As underscored in the resolution, the referendum held in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol on 16 March 2014, having no validity, cannot form the basis for any alteration of the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea or of the city of Sevastopol.

Despite the clear demand of the international community, over the past three years the Russian Federation has not abandoned its aggressive actions and gross violations of the UN Charter and fundamental norms and principles of international law, and continued temporarily occupation of the Crimean Peninsula, blatant infringements on human rights and open military aggression in Donbas. It is high time to recognize: the past 25 years of Russia's membership in the UN have been tarnished by her constant disregard for the Charter of the Organization, culminating in Russia's aggression and occupation of part of the territory of Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014, as well as ongoing aggression in the Ukrainian Donbas.

The adoption of the UN General Assembly resolution “Situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (Ukraine)" (71/205) on 19 December 2016 became another testimony of major deterioration of the human rights situation in Crimea. The resolution condemns systematic human rights violations committed by the Russian occupation authorities. By condemning the temporary occupation of Crimea by Russia, the General Assembly urges the Russian Federation to uphold all of its obligations under applicable international law as an occupying power, including by bringing an immediate end to all human rights violations in Crimea.

Ukraine urges the Russian Federation to end its occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and fully comply with the demands of the UN General Assembly resolutions 68/262 and 71/205.

Ukraine will continue to take all steps under international law to counter Russian aggression, alleviate the situation of Ukrainian citizens in the temporarily occupied territory, restore its territorial integrity and ensure that Russia makes full reparation for the injury caused by its internationally wrongful acts.