Ukraine issues note of protest over Putin’s trip to Crimea

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry once again sent a note of protest to the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday in connection with a trip to Crimea by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry expresses strong protest over Russian president’s stay in the Ukrainian territory on August 19 that was not coordinated [with the Ukrainian side]," the note said.

Putin arrived in Crimea on Friday for a session with permanent members of the Russian Security Council. It is his first trip to the peninsula after recent attempted terrorist attacks by Kiev.

The Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, a city with a special status on the Crimean Peninsula, where most residents are Russians, refused to recognize the legitimacy of authorities brought to power amid riots during a coup in Ukraine in February 2014.

Crimea and Sevastopol adopted declarations of independence on March 11, 2014. They held a referendum on March 16, 2014, in which 96.77% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol voters chose to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the reunification deals March 18, 2014.
 [tass.com]
19/8/16
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