Crimean Tatar Leader Says Tighter Sanctions, Provision of Weapons to Ukraine are “Key to Quick Return of Crimea”

Crimean Tatar Leader Says Tighter Sanctions, Provision of Weapons to Ukraine are “Key to Quick Return of Crimea”
12 September 2015

Among the key factors of a quick return of Crimea to Ukraine are strengthening of sanctions against Russia, the provision of weapons to Ukraine by the West and reforms in Ukraine. Regat Chubarov, member of the Ukrainian parliament and chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, expressed these points today at the 12th Yalta European Strategy (YES) Annual Meeting.

In response to the question “What are the main factors that will allow returning Crimea to Ukraine in the short term?” Chubarov responded: “The first one is tightening sanctions, and one should choose the objects that are most effective. As for me, those include Putin's closest financial environment. Give them a hard time so that they break into Putin’s office and say” 'Stop it! We have to leave Crimea!’" he said. 

Chubarov added, “The second factor is strengthening Ukraine's defence capability. “Give us weapons that will allow us to defend our country," the chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People said. 

Moreover, in his opinion, reforming the country is another essential factor that would facilitate the return of Crimea to Ukraine. "We will do everything to cope with this task," Chubarov said. 

The Mejlis chairman noted that the international community should not expect Crimea to return to Ukraine in the long term, but added "We must do all that we can to return quickly – because the entire nation, the European nation – is held hostage there. If we return in 10 years, there will be no such nation anymore. We have to restore justice based on international law," Chubarov concluded.

The 12th Yalta European Strategy Annual Meeting is streamed live at yes-ukraine.org as well as web-sites of the Media Partners in English and Ukrainian.

The official Twitter of the 12th YES Annual Meeting is @yes_ukraine, and participants and followers can include the hashtag: #YESUkraine2015.

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Richard Branson
Richard Branson
Founder and Chairman, Virgin Group, 9th YES Annual Meeting, 2012
«The problem of capitalism is that it does result in the extreme wealth of a few people. If those people are benevolent people, they’ll use that wealth constructively; they’ll reinvest it and do great things»