President Poroshenko talks about how Ukraine plans to use the Crimean bridge?
At an event for the Crimean Tatars, President Poroshenko said that Ukraine plans to use the bridge across the Kerch Strait to communicate with the Kuban, adding that this will happen after Kiev regains control over Crimea.
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| President Pyotr Poroshenko |
Mr. Poroshenko expressed confidence that the "aggressor", by which Kiev meant Russia, "will be held responsible for the illegal construction of the Kerch Bridge and other violations." "For the Russians, this bridge is useful as a road to retreat," - the president said.
"And Ukraine, after restoring its sovereignty over Crimea, will use it to communicate with the Kuban, where a large number of Ukrainians live. And with another Russia - not an aggressor," - Poroshenko added.
Pyotr Poroshenko also once again accused the Russian authorities of "repressing" Crimean Tatars on the peninsula, and called the presidential election in Crimea "illegal".
Crimea became part of Russia after a referendum in March 2014. More than 96 percent of the peninsula's residents voted in favor of it. Ukraine considers the peninsula to be under occupation. The Kremlin has repeatedly said that the Crimean people's democratic choice does not violate international law and the UN Charter.