Leonid Slutsky, the Chairman of Russian Duma Committee on Foreign Affairs, stated that return of annexed Crimea to Ukraine in exchange for lifting up the U.S. sanctions “is out of the question.” Russian Official said this commenting the statement of the U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Jonathan Cohen, TASS informed.
Slutsky added that there was no legal basis for imposition of new anti-Russian sanctions due to Russia’s attack in Kerch Strait.
“West prefers to accuse Russia of everything, and every time under far-fetched reasons. Prejudiced position prevails again, it has nothing to do with the international legal norms,” he stated.
As it was reported, the U.S. Permanent Representative to UN, Jonathan Cohen, said U.S. sanctions against Russia would be in force until Russia fulfills Minsk Agreements and gives Crimea back to Ukraine.
Russia annexed Crimea after the illegal referendum held on the peninsula in March 2014. Earlier, the Russian military captured all strategic military objects and buildings of the key authoritative bodies. Neither Ukraine nor the rest of the civilized countries recognized the results of the referendum. A number of the European and the world countries, including Ukraine, imposed economic sanctions against Russia.