Trucker Putin opens Russia bridge link with annexed Crimea
Putin's driven a truck over the newly built Kerch straight bridge. I wonder what it will be named? He drove the 12 miles of the bridge in an orange Kamaz truck wearing jeans:
Poroshenko is clearly unhappy:
$3.6Bn cost to build it. It'll be the longest dual-purpose span in Europe. Rail link due to open end of 2019, cars able to use it from tomorrow:
France (Foreign Ministry spokesman) and the EU (European External Action Service spokesman) condemn the opening:
Putin's driven a truck over the newly built Kerch straight bridge. I wonder what it will be named? He drove the 12 miles of the bridge in an orange Kamaz truck wearing jeans:
“At last, thanks to your talent, this project, this miracle, has happened,” Putin told the workers.
In Kiev, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said: “The illegal construction of the Kerch bridge is the latest evidence of the Kremlin’s disregard for international law.
“It is particularly cynical that its opening is happening on the eve of the latest anniversary of the deportation of the Crimean-Tatar people by the Stalin regime.”
“It is particularly cynical that its opening is happening on the eve of the latest anniversary of the deportation of the Crimean-Tatar people by the Stalin regime.”
Built at a cost of 223 billion roubles ($3.60 billion), the bridge will be the longest dual-purpose span in Europe. The Kremlin said it would be opened to cars on Wednesday and the rail section was due to be completed at the end of 2019.
“Putin initiated this project himself. Many didn’t believe these plans were possible,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday ahead of the ceremony.
“This is an extremely important day from this point of view and in a practical sense and in symbolic terms.”
“Putin initiated this project himself. Many didn’t believe these plans were possible,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday ahead of the ceremony.
“This is an extremely important day from this point of view and in a practical sense and in symbolic terms.”
“France condemns the construction by Russia of the Kerch Bridge, which deprives Ukraine of full access and the use of its internationally recognised territorial waters,” a French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.
The spokesperson of the European External Action Service said in a statement on Tuesday the bridge was “another violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
“The European Union continues to condemn the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia and will not recognise this violation of international law,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson of the European External Action Service said in a statement on Tuesday the bridge was “another violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
“The European Union continues to condemn the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia and will not recognise this violation of international law,” the spokesperson said.