Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry sternly condemns illegal visit of African diplomats to occupied Crimea
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sharply condemned the recent visit of ambassadors from three African nations – Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso – to the territory of Crimea, which is temporarily occupied by Russia.
The visit, which took place despite international laws and Ukraine’s sovereignty claims, sparked strong protests from Kyiv.
Ukrainian officials emphasized that these actions are a blatant violation of international norms, including UN resolutions, as well as Ukrainian legislation that explicitly regulates the rules for visiting occupied territories.
Kyiv pointed out that these diplomatic visits are not just individual acts but are seen as deliberate breaches and complicity in Russia’s ongoing illegal occupation of Crimea.
The Ukrainian MFA highlighted that Moscow actively uses foreign representatives as tools in its propaganda efforts to create an illusion of legitimacy for its annexation.
The ministry also noted that these visits are part of Russia’s broader strategy to legitimize its colonial ambitions through diplomatic manipulations, which Kyiv considers deeply cynical and hypocritical.
Ukraine reserves the right to respond to any attempts that threaten its sovereignty and territorial integrity, emphasizing that such provocations will not go unanswered.
It is recalled that in July 2025, ambassadors from Rwanda, Guinea, and Chad in Russia visited Crimea, where they were shown the socio-economic situation and potential for foreign investment.
These actions are understood as part of Russia’s broader efforts to consolidate its illegal hold over Ukrainian territories, and Kyiv remains committed to defending its sovereignty against such provocative maneuvers.