U.S. reminds Russia that sanctions will remain in place until Crimea returns to Ukraine

This was said in a statement by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on February 25.

"We affirm the basic truth: Crimea is Ukraine... We call on Russia to immediately end its occupation of Crimea, release all Ukrainian political prisoners it unjustly holds, and return full control of the peninsula to Ukraine. We likewise call on Russia to end its aggression in eastern Ukraine. U.S. sanctions on Russia in response to its aggression in eastern Ukraine and seizure of Crimea will remain in place unless and until Russia reverses course. The United States does not, and will never, recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Crimea," Blinken said.

According to him, the consequences of Russia’s occupation and militarization of the peninsula threaten stability throughout the world.

Blinken also recalled the systemic repressions against Crimean Tatars, ethnic Ukrainians, and members of other minority ethnic and religious groups in Crimea. Russian occupation authorities have raided mosques and homes, driven independent media off the peninsula, and handed down lengthy prison sentences to those who dare to speak out against the occupation

"The United States welcomes Ukraine’s new initiative, the Crimean Platform, and looks forward to continuing to work with Ukraine and our allies and partners to end Russia’s occupation of the Crimean Peninsula and aggression in eastern Ukraine," the secretary of state summed up.

As reported, Russia's planned armed aggression against Ukraine began on February 20, 2014 with a military operation by the Russian Armed Forces to seize part of Ukraine's territory - the Crimean peninsula. Subsequently, Russian regular troops and Russian-led militants occupied certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.

ish