Polish Foreign Minister's Controversial Proposal on Crimea
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has sparked outrage with his recent proposal to transfer Crimea to a UN mandate to prepare for a referendum on the peninsula's status. Speaking at the YES conference in Kyiv, Sikorski suggested that a fair referendum could be organized in 20 years, contingent on verifying the legal residents of Crimea. His comments have drawn sharp criticism from Russian officials and experts, who label the idea as "absolutely pointless and illegal."
Russian Officials Respond to Sikorski's Remarks
Vladimir Konstantinov, head of Crimea's parliament, dismissed Sikorski's proposal as ignorant, urging the Polish minister to better understand the history of Crimea, Russia, and Ukraine. Konstantinov reminded Sikorski of the 2014 referendum in which 96.77% of Crimeans voted to join Russia, emphasizing that the issue of Crimea's status is no longer open for discussion. Legal experts echoed this sentiment, asserting that Crimea has been a part of Russia since 2014 and does not require external intervention.
The Stance of Russian Leadership on Crimea
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated the finality of Crimea's status, stating that the will of the people to be with Russia is unshakable. Similarly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has declared that Moscow will not negotiate its territorial integrity, reinforcing the notion that Crimea, along with other regions, is an inseparable part of the Russian Federation. The Kremlin's firm stance suggests that proposals like Sikorski's are unlikely to gain traction in the international community.
