Foreign Minister Lavrov: The West cannot change the fact that Crimea is part of Russia

Illustration photo: TASS

On March 16, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the West's actions cannot change the fact that Crimea is now part of Russia and will remain so forever.

In an interview with Krym-24 TV channel on the 7th anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea, he said: "Crimea's future will be linked to Russia forever. Whether people like it or not. No action by Western countries led by the United States can change this reality, whether from the perspective of international law, or from the perspective of politics or morality."

He recalled that seven years ago, the people of Crimea voted in favor of joining Russia "in full compliance with international law." He stressed: "This, in order to exercise the right of states to self-determination, in compliance with the UN Charter, is the only way to protect the interests, dignity and lives of the people of Crimea, in the context of numerous threats from nationalists and neo-fascists who came to power in Kiev after an unconstitutional armed coup."

The minister pledged that Russia's diplomacy would continue "efforts to make foreign partners finally see the realities of Crimea's return to its homeland."

According to TASS, the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol - a city on the Crimean peninsula, with a majority of Russian residents, refused to recognize the legitimacy of the authorities in power after the riots in the February 2014 coup in Ukraine. Crimea and Sevastopol declared independence on March 11, 2014, and held a referendum on March 16, 2014 on secession from Ukraine and annexation to the Russian Federation.

Russian President Putin signed the unification treaties on March 18, 2014, and the documents were approved by the Russian Federal Assembly on March 21.

However, Ukraine, the United States and the European Union still refuse to recognize Crimea as part of Russia.