As a journalist, she had at the time traveled to Crimea on a visa issued by Russia. However, the annexation of Crimea by Russia is not recognized by the international community. Any travel to Crimea through Russia is considered illegal by Ukraine. A procedure for traveling to Crimea via Ukraine exists. But the Russian procedure is less complex and faster, although not recognized by the Ukrainian authorities.
This highly commented trip to Ukraine on social networks therefore takes an embarrassing diplomatic turn for the new Minister of Foreign Affairs.
RTBF has requested a reaction from the Ukrainian Embassy regarding this controversy. It refers us to the statement of a spokesperson for Ukrainian Foreign Affairs, Oleg Nikolenko. On his Facebook page, Oleg Nikolenko recalls the official Ukrainian position in relation to trips to Crimea. “Visiting the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula is only possible if followed by Ukraine, from the mainland. Entry into the territory of the Russian Federation is illegal.“
In his declaration, this diplomat also specifies that contacts are taking place on this subject between Belgium and Ukraine. “The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is discussing the issue with the Belgian side through diplomatic channels in order to establish the conditions of the trip and to take decisions on new bilateral contacts.“
The affair of this trip is therefore well discussed behind the scenes between Belgian and Ukrainian diplomats. These contacts between the two countries are confirmed to us by Belgian sources.
But if this trip causes embarrassment on the Belgian and Ukrainian side, the reaction of the Ukrainian diplomat also welcomes the arrival of the new Belgian Foreign Minister. “We positively celebrate Minister Lahbib’s assurance to further support Ukraine in its fight once morest Russia’s armed aggression“, Oleg Nikolenko added on his Facebook page.
Despite this controversial trip to 2021, the bridges are therefore far from being cut between the two countries. The office of the Belgian Foreign Minister also recalls that Hadja Lahbib met once more with a representative of the Embassy of Ukraine on Tuesday, during the inauguration of a Ukrainian monument at Mini-Europe this Tuesday, July 26.
