EU to Maintain Anti-Crimea Sanctions, Urges UN Members to Follow

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — The European Union will uphold restrictions against Crimea and calls on other UN member states to consider similar measures, the bloc's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement Monday.

Exactly one year ago, the people of Crimea, previously an autonomous republic within Ukraine, voted by an overwhelming majority to join Russia after refusing to recognize Kiev's new leadership installed after a coup in February.

The European Union, along with allied Western nations, did not recognize the move and has handed down a series of sanctions against Russia's critical defense, energy and banking sectors, as well as a number of high-ranking officials.

"The European Union will remain committed to fully implement its non-recognition policy, including through restrictive measures. The EU calls again on UN Member States to consider similar non-recognition measures," the declaration on the one-year anniversary of Crimea's reunification with Russia reads.

The 28-member economic bloc imposed a one-year embargo on the peninsula in June 25, 2014, banning the import of goods and services into the EU without Ukrainian certification.

In mid-December, all European investment in Crimea and the city of Sevastopol was banned.

Additionally in Monday's communique, Brussels expressed concern over the "continuous military build-up" and the human rights situation in Crimea.