On 27 May, the 11th round of EU-Ukraine consultations on the legal consequences of the temporary occupation of the territories of Ukraine, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, took place in the framework of the dialogue between Kyiv and Brussels. For the first time since the full-scale invasion, the parties expanded the agenda of the consultations and discussed the situation on all the territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by russia.

The Ukrainian delegation was headed by First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andriy Sybiga, while the EU delegation was led by Luke Devine, EEAS (European External Action Service) Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional Cooperation and OSCE. The consultations were also attended by representatives of the relevant ministries and agencies of Ukraine, the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, as well as experts from the European External Action Service and the European Commission.

During the consultations, the parties considered issues related to the process of de-occupation and reintegration of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Particular attention was paid to the activities of the International Crimean Platform as a format for uniting international efforts to de-occupy Crimea.

The delegations exchanged views on the security situation and large-scale human rights violations in the temporarily occupied territories, and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between Ukraine and the EU to return forcibly deported Ukrainian citizens, including children.

Important elements of the discussion were the topical issues of strengthening the defence potential of our country through the russian assets frozen in the EU. Special attention was paid to strengthening the EU's sanctions policy to limit russia's ability to continue its military aggression.

The Ukrainian side expressed its expectation that the next 14th package of sanctions will include significant sectoral restrictive measures against the aggressor country and will provide for further effective steps to counteract sanctions circumvention.

Representatives of the Ukrainian delegation called on the EU to make more active use of the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Mechanism to bring to justice representatives of the aggressor state involved in massive human rights violations in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

The EU side reaffirmed its readiness to continue its comprehensive support for Ukraine to restore its territorial integrity within internationally recognised borders, as well as to consistently implement the policy of non-recognition of the decisions of the russian federation regarding the illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories.

The participants of the consultations agreed that the Global Peace Summit, which is being prepared by Ukraine and Switzerland, will be an important element in stopping russian aggression and establishing sustainable and just peace in Ukraine and on the European continent.