You're reading: Poroshenko suggests granting Crimean Tatars national territorial autonomy in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is advocating for the Crimean Tatars’ right to a national territorial autonomy as part of Ukraine, which, in his opinion, would facilitate the reinstatement of the Ukrainian sovereignty over the Crimean Peninsula.

“The legislative recognition of the inherent right of the Crimean Tatars, as the indigenous peoples of Ukraine, to self-determination as part of the independent Ukrainian state must be finalized,” Poroshenko said at the events commemorating the 75th anniversary of the deportation of the Crimean Tatars in Kyiv on May 18.

“I am firmly convinced that we will only become stronger in our aspiration to reinstate Ukraine’s state sovereignty over the Crimean Peninsula upon the introduction of the amendments to the Ukrainian Constitution on the recognition of the Crimean Tatars’ rights to a national territorial autonomy as part of Ukraine,” the Ukrainian president said.

Poroshenko also said he believes that Crimea is turning into a “military foothold,” and the deployment of nuclear weapons to the peninsula is likely because the infrastructure for it has already been created.

In addition, the outgoing Ukrainian president supported increasing international pressure on Russia.