On March 16, 2014, Crimea held a referendum amidst significant political turmoil, declaring independence from Ukraine and integration into the Russian federation. The conditions surrounding the referendum were highly controversial and disputed internationally as Russian military forces had already occupied the peninsula prior to the referendum, following the ousting of Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014. Ten years on, how do the Ukrainians view this sham referendum and Crimea’s annexation? To discuss this, TVP World was joined by Kira Rudik, a Ukrainian MP.
Rudik said that despite Moscow’s best attempts, it has failed to erase the Ukrainian identity of Crimea and this is best manifested by the fact that “there are many people who are still fighting for Ukraine inside Crimea,” and that “ Russia is continuously arresting more and more people whom they suspect are working for Ukraine”.
“Crimea is Ukraine and we will never give up on the goal to turn it back to Ukraine,” she said.
She also added that for Ukrainians “Crimea is a painful matter as it was the first attempt of Russia to try out the response of the West.” She said that the West’s response was the first sign of impunity for Putin as although there were some sanctions “but actually he [Putin-TVP World] remained a ‘handshakable’ president with all the Western leaders.”
She further remarked that it was this lenient response from the West that eventually emboldened Putin to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
She said that Crimea taught us the lesson “that Russia won’t stop unless it is stopped.”
As for the war in Ukraine, our guest expressed her firm resolve that Ukrainians ”can and will win the war,” and restore their sovereignty and territorial integrity, but she emphasized that what Kyiv needs is a proper amount of weapons so that it can fight Russia and does not have to face Russian troops “empty-handed”.
“Crimea is Ukraine and we will never give up on the goal to turn it back to Ukraine,” she said.
She also added that for Ukrainians “Crimea is a painful matter as it was the first attempt of Russia to try out the response of the West.” She said that the West’s response was the first sign of impunity for Putin as although there were some sanctions “but actually he [Putin-TVP World] remained a ‘handshakable’ president with all the Western leaders.”
She further remarked that it was this lenient response from the West that eventually emboldened Putin to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
She said that Crimea taught us the lesson “that Russia won’t stop unless it is stopped.”
As for the war in Ukraine, our guest expressed her firm resolve that Ukrainians ”can and will win the war,” and restore their sovereignty and territorial integrity, but she emphasized that what Kyiv needs is a proper amount of weapons so that it can fight Russia and does not have to face Russian troops “empty-handed”.
Source: TVP World
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