Russian officials in Crimea have invited French nationalist leader Marine Le Pen to the disputed region, after she voiced her support for Moscow’s claim over the territory.
While the Crimean peninsula is internationally recognized as Ukrainian territory, Russia deployed unmarked troops in the area in 2014 and held a snap referendum on whether it should join Russia. The results came strongly in favor of joining Russia, at a time when large parts of Ukraine were celebrating the toppling of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.
