(MENAFN- UkrinForm) U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo states that the Russian Federation must return Ukraine control over the Crimean peninsula.
Secretary Pompeo said this at a press availability on the release of the 2019 International Religious Freedom Report, the transcript of which was published on the website of the U.S. Department of State.
"Russia must end its repression of those who oppose its occupation, release unjustly imprisoned Ukrainians, and return full control to the peninsula of Ukraine. Crimea is Ukraine," Pompeo said.
He also added that since 2015, Russia has conscripted thousands of Crimean men into its armed forces and imposed criminal penalties on those who do not comply.
Earlier, Pompeo repeatedly emphasized that the United States will never recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia.
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