U.S. Embassy condemns launch of train service between Russia and Crimea

 “We join Ukrainian and other European partners in condemning Russia’s launch of train service between Russia and Crimea. Russia’s latest move demonstrates blatant disrespect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine posted on Twitter.

On December 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched railway traffic across the Kerch Strait, getting from the occupied Kerch to the Russian station of Taman by a rail bus.

In this regard, the Office of Representative of the President of Ukraine in Crimea emphasized the illegality of Russia's railway link with the annexed peninsula and recalled that any entry into or exit from the temporarily occupied Crimea should only take place with the agreement of the Ukrainian side through the entry-exit chekpoint.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expressed strong protest over the uncoordinated visit of Putin to the temporarily occupied Crimea and the launch of railway traffic on the so-called "Crimean Bridge" and stressed that the status of the peninsula would not be changed in the Constitution of Ukraine.

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