The Second International Conference 'Crimea Global. Understanding Ukraine through the South' Begins in Kyiv

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The Second International Conference "Crimea Global. Understanding Ukraine through the South" has commenced in Kyiv. The event was initiated by the Representative Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the Crimea Platform Office, with co-organizers including the Media Initiative for Human Rights, the ZMINA Human Rights Center, and PEN Ukraine.

More than 100 participants are attending, including experts, government officials, ambassadors, and representatives from African, Asian, and Latin American countries.

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The conference is dedicated to deepening dialogue between Ukraine and the countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, as this is one of Ukraine's diplomatic priorities. Participants will learn about the current situation in Ukraine, particularly at the front lines, and discuss support for the Peace Formula, restoring justice, ensuring global food security, Ukraine's achievements in the Black Sea, and the situation with human rights.

Particular attention is being paid to the liberation of Crimea, which is of significant importance to countries in these regions in terms of addressing UN Charter violations, food and energy security violations, and experiences in overcoming colonialism.

Tamila Tasheva, Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, spoke about Ukraine regaining control over the Black Sea and the establishment of a temporary corridor after the termination of the grain deal.

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"Thanks to this corridor, even under constant threats from Russian occupation forces, 76.8 million tons of goods, most of which were grain, passed through Ukrainian ports. This corridor has been critically important for global food security, especially for countries heavily reliant on Ukrainian grain," she said.

The first panel discussion of the conference addressed global efforts to achieve a just peace for Ukraine.

Dariia Zarivna, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President, stated during her speech:

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"In just one generation, Eastern Europe lost its independence due to Soviet occupation and subsequent USSR dominance. Meanwhile, during the same period, dozens of countries outside the West gained independence, allowing them to remain distant from European and Euro-Atlantic problems and disputes. We fully respect these nations' right to neutrality and recognize how difficult and long their journey has been. But Russia's invasion of Ukraine is fundamentally different. This is not a conflict between Russia and the West. It is not a proxy war. For Russia, it is a colonial war. For us, it is a fight for independence and survival. Yet its implications extend far beyond our borders: nuclear security, food security, global logistics, and environmental catastrophe. If even one attempt at recolonization succeeds, it will jeopardize the sovereignty of dozens of states worldwide. This critical fact is absent from all foreign peace plans we've seen so far."

Regarding the possibility of a just resolution to this war and the prevention of future conflicts, Dariia Zarivna added: "President Zelenskyy's Peace Formula is designed to prevent war from becoming the dominant tool of international politics in the 21st century. The strength of this Formula lies in collective action. It allows every nation of good will to demonstrate leadership. For countries outside the West, it is an opportunity to pioneer global reforms."

This international conference was first held last year and brought together more than 300 participants.