As delivered by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe

The Council of Europe is proud to participate in the Crimea Platform.

Our commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is steadfast.

And includes our long-standing opposition to the Russian Federation’s illegal annexation of Crimea.

But this Summit takes place in even more urgent and pressing circumstances than last year’s.

The Council of Europe has been crystal clear in its condemnation of Russia’s brutal, illegal and ongoing aggression against Ukraine –

And our member states were right to expel the country from our Organisation earlier this year.

Now, our focus is on doing what we can to support Ukraine and its people.

Our experts are helping the Office of the Prosecutor General as it investigates evidence of war crimes.

With the Ukrainian authorities, we have agreed an adjusted action plan –

Bolstering institutions, including the justice system and the media, given the challenges they now face.

And we are helping member states support Ukrainian refugees who have fled.

It is also important to acknowledge that the situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol has further deteriorated.

I heard first-hand accounts of this suffering last November when I met activists and others at the administrative boundary line near Kherson.

And I was also able to talk about the issues at stake with leaders of the Mejlis of Crimean Tatars, in May of this year.

Since then, my team has held consultations with Tatar representatives –

And with other human rights defenders and civil society activists –

And we will continue to work with them on ways to shed light on human rights violations.

In June, I presented my first report on the human rights situation in Crimea.

And this was followed by a decision of our member states to continue their monitoring of the situation.

There are obvious limits to what can be done given the reality on the ground.

But we will do all that we can.

And our approach will respond as circumstances change.

This is true for Crimea –

And for all of Ukraine.

While in the country earlier this year, I was able to assure President Zelenskyy that the Council of Europe will continue to stand in solidarity with his country –

As we all seek a just, sustainable peace, grounded in international law –

In which every Ukrainian is able to benefit from the human rights, democracy and rule of law standards that are theirs by right.

And finally congratulations on your Independence Day.