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Yatsenyuk: Crimea to remain an integral part of Ukraine

"We are calling on Russia not to recognize the so-called government of Crimea," parliament-approved Ukrainian prime minister said
Arseniy Yatsenyuk, center left, as he walks to a media conference at an EU summit in Brussels AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert
Arseniy Yatsenyuk, center left, as he walks to a media conference at an EU summit in Brussels
© AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert

BRUSSELS, March 06. /ITAR-TASS/. Parliament-approved Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has urged Russia not to recognize the Crimean government.

“Crimea has been and will remain an integral part of Ukraine,” he said.

“We are calling on Russia not to recognize the so-called government of Crimea,” Yatsenyuk told a news conference after meeting the leaders of the 28 EU countries who had gathered for an emergency summit in Brussels on Friday.

At the same time, he spoke in favor of a political and diplomatic settlement to the Crimean crisis, having urged Russia to sit down to talks and start real negotiations with an aim to find a peaceful solution.

“We do not want the conflict to be frozen or hot,” Yatsenyuk said, adding the Ukrainian military would act in compliance with Ukraine’s Constitution in case of further escalation or military intervention.

“We are ready to defend our country,” Yatsenyuk stressed.