© www.aljazeera.comSevastopol's Black Sea port.
Crimea, which has a predominately ethnically-Russian population, seceded from Ukraine to rejoin Russia two years ago following a referendum on March 16 in which over 96 percent of voters supported the move.
"We will not accept the redrawing of borders by force in the 21st century. Sanctions related to Crimea will remain in place as long as the occupation continues. We again call on Russia to end that occupation and return Crimea to Ukraine," John Kirby said in a statement Wednesday.
He added that Washington remains committed to "a united, sovereign Ukraine."
In 2014, the United States, the European Union and some of their allies imposed a series of economic sanctions targeting key Russian sectors as well as a number of individuals and entities over Russia's reunification with Crimea and its alleged interference in the conflict between Kiev and independence supporters in eastern Ukraine, denied by Moscow.
Comment: Well good luck with that plan! Russia didn't steal it. It is the decision of the Crimeans as to which flag they fly and who they wish as their country and leaders. And then: "We will not accept the redrawing of borders by force in the 21st century." This is a prize statement coming from the US of all countries! And about those sanctions: To Russia the US sanctions are insignificant, given its sky-rocketing status and options around the world.
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