Tusk: EU will never recognize Crimea’s annexation

During the Eastern Partnership summit, the European Council President Donald Tusk said that the EU will never recognize the annexation of Crimea by Russia. “We condemn the aggression of Russia and we will never recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea,” he said. His words were in stark comparison with the summit’s official declaration, which did not mention the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in Eastern Ukraine by name. “The summit participants call for renewed efforts to promote the peaceful settlement of unresolved conflicts in the region on the basis of the principles and norms of international law. The resolution of conflicts, building trust, and good neighborly relations are essential to the economic and social development and cooperation,” it said.