Speaking at the 6th Summit of the International Crimea Platform in New York, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said confidence in international law was facing a crisis. The summit was held on September 23 as part of the high-level meetings during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Zelenskyy said international law should not remain an expression confined to texts but should also be effectively applied in real life. He said the effectiveness of international norms determines how the world approaches the value of human life.
This determines whether human life has real value.
The Ukrainian leader said Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty, including Crimea, must be fully restored so that life can be rebuilt in its entirety on the basis of international law.
More than 60 participants attended the summit
Zelenskyy said this year’s event was held with the broadest participation compared with previous years, adding that more than 60 participants, including the leaders of 16 countries, took part in the summit.
Zelenskyy said Panama and Trinidad and Tobago joined the Crimea Platform for the first time, adding that the level of representation on the platform had increased over the years. He said global participation showed that the platform was more than just an annual meeting.
The platform was established in 2021
The International Crimea Platform, a format for coordination and consultation among states and governments, parliaments, foreign ministers and experts, was established in 2021. Ukraine’s international partners attended the 6th Summit through high-level political representatives.