U.S. calls on Russia to immediately return full control of Crimea to Ukraine

The United States will never recognize Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and urges to immediately return full control of Crimea to Ukraine.

U.S. Chargé d'Affaires in Ukraine Kristina Kvien said this in a video address on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people.

“Today we solemnly remember the starting of Soviet deportations of Crimean Tatars, which caused unimaginable traumas, suffering and deaths of many thousands... That trauma and sufferings only deepen by Russia’s modern day occupation of Crimea. The United States does not and will not recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Crimea. Our Crimea-related sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns control of the Crimean peninsula to Ukraine,” Kvien said.

She assured that U.S. commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unshakable.

“We call on Russia to stop inflicting suffering to the people of Crimea, end conscription there and immediately return full control of Crimea to Ukraine. We stand with Ukraine and reaffirm that Crimea is Ukraine,” the diplomat stressed.

May 18, Ukraine honors the victims of deportation of the Crimean Tatar people and marks the Day of Struggle for the Rights of the Crimean Tatar People. The deportation of the Crimean Tatars began at 03:00 on May 18, 1944 and lasted until the beginning of June.

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