On 6 July, the European Union and Ukraine held the 13th round of senior officials' consultations on the consequences of the temporary occupation of Ukrainian territories by Russia, including Crimea, in a virtual format. The discussions focused on the deteriorating human rights situation, lack of humanitarian access, and security environment in the Black Sea region, including forced deportations, passportisation, forced mobilisation, arbitrary detention, and restrictions on freedom of expression. The EU reaffirmed its unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, reiterating that it will never recognise Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia. The EU also committed to the full implementation of its non-recognition policy, including through restrictive measures. The consultations, launched in 2015, aim to coordinate efforts and maintain regular exchanges on the EU's non-recognition policy towards the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol. The EU and Ukraine will continue cooperating in monitoring and documenting alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, as reflected in UN and OSCE reports, with comprehensive accountability remaining a fundamental priority.
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