Mark Toner
The United States will maintain restrictive measures against Russia imposed over the annexation of Crimea into the Russian Federation. As reported on Thursday, March 16, RIA Novosti, this was stated by the acting official representative of us state Department mark Toner.
“The United States reiterates its condemnation of the Russian occupation of Crimea and call for its immediate end. Our sanctions related to the Crimea will remain in force as long as Russia does not return control of Ukraine”, — reads the statement of the Toner.
The diplomat reiterated the US position that the Peninsula is “part of Ukraine”, the referendum on 16 March 2014 he called the “illegal” and the will of the inhabitants of the Crimea — nonfree.
Previously, on 16 March, the official Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow is not considering the possibility of signing with Washington of the transaction in the Crimea in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. “This can not be and speeches,” he said, adding that the holding of a second referendum also excluded.
Crimea and Sevastopol joined Russia in March 2014 according to the results of the plebiscite, the majority of which have adopted this solution. Kiev the results of the referendum does not recognize and considers the Peninsula occupied territory. The Kremlin insists that the procedure conforms to the norms of international law. Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that the question of ownership of the Peninsula is closed.