French Foreign Ministry says its position on the Crimea remains unchanged
A representative from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Romain Nadal, stated that the official position of France on the Crimea remains unchanged – the accession of the peninsula was illegal. Nadal noted that attempts by the Russian authorities to legitimize the accession of the Crimea by electing representatives from the peninsula to the Russian State Duma will not change France’s position.
“On the 16th of August, the president of the republic recalled the consistent position of France during a telephone conversation with the president of Russia and German chancellor. The essence of this position is the fact that the accession of the Crimea is illegal,” the French diplomat added.
Earlier, François Hollande expressed concern about the escalating conflict in the Donbas in recent weeks and the increasing number of ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine. In his talk with Vladimir Putin, Hollande stressed that escalation will put the whole process at risk and that is why there is no alternative to peaceful settlement of the conflict.
On September 18, parliamentary elections will take place in Russia. The elections will also take place in the Crimea.