Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday, in a video appeal to the Second Crimea Platform Summit, emphasized that the end of Russia's occupation of Crimea is a de facto requirement of international law and an essential element of global security and stability.

"Türkiye does not recognize the annexation of Crimea and has been openly stating since the first day that this step is illegitimate and illegal. This is a principled stance that has not only legal but also moral foundations. International law essentially determines that Crimea should return to Ukraine, of which it is an inseparable part," the Turkish president emphasized.

He added that preserving Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political unity "is extremely important not only for regional but also for global security and stability."

"Ensuring the safety and well-being of our Crimean Tatar compatriots is also among Türkiye's priorities. The Crimean Tatars, who have suffered great pains throughout history, are fighting for a peaceful life in their homeland. Türkiye will continue to stand by the Ukrainian government and the Crimean Tatars in this process," Erdoğan added.

As previously reported, the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, declared the need to liberate the entire territory of Ukraine, including Crimea, from the Russian occupation.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi called the struggle for Crimea part of the struggle for the liberation of all of Ukraine.