Spokesperson for the U.S. Department Heather Nauert has reminded Russian President Vladimir Putin that the illegally annexed territory of Crimea belongs to Ukraine.
“Four years ago this week, Russia held an illegitimate, fabricated ‘referendum’ in Ukraine in a futile attempt to legitimize its purported annexation of Ukrainian territory. Crimean residents were compelled to vote under scrutiny by heavily armed Russian troops. Russia’s claim that Ukrainians made a free choice in that sham ‘referendum’ has always lacked credibility,” Nauert told a briefing in Washington March 14.
