Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation

The General Assembly, reaffirming the paramount importance of the Charter of the United Nations in the promotion of the rule of law among nations... Calls upon all states, international organizations, and specialized agencies not to recognize any alteration of the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol... ~ UNGA Resolution 68/262

The annexation of Crimea by Russia began in February and March 2014, when Russia invaded and subsequently annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine. The Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol, both recognized by the U.N. as Ukrainian territory, became declared parts of the Russian Federation. The declared annexation is not recognized by Ukraine, the United Nations, and 100 other countries, although it is the defacto government in the region.

Quotes

The annexation of Crimea became one of the most cynical acts of treachery in modern history. ~ Petro Poroshenko

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly... Expresses its grave concern over increasing militarization in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and statements by some Russian officials indicating an intention to deploy nuclear weapons in that region by the Russian Federation, actions which undermine global, European, and regional peace and security... ~ OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

• In the 21st century, nations cannot; and we cannot allow them to redraw borders by force. These are the ground rules. And if we fail to uphold them, we will rue the day. Russia has violated these ground rules and continues to violate them. Today Russia is occupying sovereign Ukrainian territory. Let me be crystal clear: The United States does not, will not, never will recognize Russia’s attempt to annex the Crimea... It’s that saying; that simple. There is no justification.
  • Joe Biden, remarks by Vice President Joe Biden to The Ukrainian Rada (9 December 2015).

• The territory of Ukraine is indivisible and inviolable.
  • Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine (1991).

• The way that Russia seized Crimea by force from Ukraine this March was hostile and extremely illegal... A poll found that 41 percent of Crimeans wanted the region to become part of Russia. That's an awful lot; but it's still not a majority. Crimea's March referendum on leaving Ukraine for Russia ostensibly garnered 97 percent support, but it occurred in a rush, without international monitors, and under Russian military occupation. A draft U.N. investigative report found that critics of secession within Crimea were detained and tortured in the days before the vote; it also found 'many reports of vote-rigging'. Had the referendum been held in a transparent and legal manner, it's not clear which way the vote would have gone.
  • Max Fisher, "So should Crimea be part of Russia or Ukraine?" (3 September 2014), Vox

• The entire world opposes Russia's annexation of Crimea.
  • Max Fisher, "This quote about Putin's machismo from Angela Merkel is just devastating" (20 May 2015), Vox

• Mr. Putin moved on Ukraine when Barack Obama was no longer a charismatic character but a known quantity with low polls, failing support, a weak economy. He'd taken Mr. Obama's measure during the Syria crisis and surely judged him not a shrewd international chess player but a secretly anxious professor who makes himself feel safe with the sound of his voice.
  • Peggy Noonan, "Warning From the Ukraine Crisis" (16 March 2014), The Wall Street Journal, p. A13

• The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
  
  ...19. Considers that the actions by the Russian Federation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, as well as in certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, constitute acts of military aggression against Ukraine;
  
  20. Declares that the referendum held in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol on 16 March 2014 had no legal validity, reiterates its call on the Russian Federation to reverse its unlawful annexation of this region, and calls on participating States to refrain from any action or dealing that might be interpreted as recognizing the unlawful annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol;
  
  21. Expresses its grave concern over increasing militarization in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and statements by some Russian officials indicating an intention to deploy nuclear weapons in that region by the Russian Federation, actions which undermine global, European, and regional peace and security...
  • The Continuation of Clear, Gross and Uncorrected Violations of OSCE Commitments and International Norms by the Russian Federation (Mr. Allison, Canada) (Compromise Supplementary Item)

• The annexation of Crimea became one of the most cynical acts of treachery in modern history.
  • Petro Poroshenko, Address to the Joint Session of the United States Congress (18 September 2014)

• The General Assembly, reaffirming the paramount importance of the Charter of the United Nations in the promotion of the rule of law among nations... Calls upon all states, international organizations, and specialized agencies not to recognize any alteration of the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol...
  • United Nations General Assembly, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262 (1 April 2014).