Russian occupation forces will need Kerch Strait Bridge to leave Crimea – Poroshenko
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said that despite Russia's attempts to legitimize the temporary occupation of the Crimean peninsula, Ukraine will continue to consistently defend its positions in international courts, including the illegal erection of the Kerch Strait Bridge.
"The illegal construction of the Kerch Strait Bridge is more evidence of Kremlin neglect of international law, especially the fact that the span was opened on the eve of another anniversary - the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people by the Stalin regime," Poroshenko wrote in his Facebook page on Tuesday.
Poroshenko said Moscow's attempts to legitimize the temporary occupation of the Crimean peninsula are futile, as evidenced by the growing number of international court decisions confirming that "the burden of a perfect international crime for Russia will only grow."
"Ukraine will continue to consistently defend its positions in the future. I recall that on my instructions to the Arbitration Tribunal of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. A petition was filed for the protection of Ukraine's sovereign interests, in particular, in connection with the illegal erection of the bridge," Poroshenko said.
At the same time, the president expressed regret that the Russian authorities are trying to draw representatives of European business into their infrastructure adventures, seeking to buy back from international legal responsibility there.
"I'm sure the aggressor will not succeed. Russia will be fully responsible, and the bridge will be necessary for the invaders when they leave our Crimea urgently," Poroshenko said.
Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, in turn, said that Russian occupation authorities "continue to operate outside international law and common sense."
"They open the Kerch bridge: an object that is built on our sovereign territory - without any coordination with a direct threat to our security sphere, economic and environmental interests," Groysman said on his Facebook page.
The prime minister said the Kremlin acts as if impunity and permissiveness will last forever, adding that this will not be the case.
"We have learned to defend our interests, including in international courts, we will take all measures and achieve justice and the rule of law," he said. .
As reported, on May 15 Russian President Vladimir Putin took part in the opening of the automobile traffic along the bridge spanning the Kerch Strait.