Russia has won an international arbitration case against Ukraine concerning the rights to the coastal zones in the Kerch Strait, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea waters around Crimea. The proceedings lasted 10 years

Key points from the Foreign Ministry’s statement:

— The arbitration tribunal, comprising five independent arbitrators from Algeria, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Russia and the Republic of Korea, delivered a unanimous ruling in Russia’s favour.

— Ukraine sought to challenge Russia’s rights as a coastal state in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. Kyiv accused Russia of violating dozens of UN conventions on the law of the sea. The court rejected all charges.

— The Ukrainian side demanded that Russia’s sovereignty over the entire Sea of Azov be recognised as a violation of international law — this was rejected.

— Kyiv was also denied its demand to recognise the Kerch Strait as international waters, with the aim of taking control of it away from Russia and allowing warships from any country to enter.

— The tribunal rejected the demand to dismantle the Crimean Bridge and Ukraine’s allegations that Russia is harming the Crimean environment. The tribunal also denied Kyiv any ‘compensation’ or ‘reparations’ for Russia’s use of natural resources in Crimean waters.

The Foreign Ministry stated that this decision is ‘sensitive'