26 Jul 2018 11:53

Berlin reaffirms non-recognition of Crimea as part of Russia

MOSCOW. July 26 (Interfax) - Germany sees Crimea's unification with Russia as a violation of international law and will not change its opinion on the matter, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.

"The annexation was a violation of international law. We will continue to firmly highlight this," the German embassy to Russia quoted Maas as saying on Thursday.

"We will not return to business as usual, no matter how much time passes," he said.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had earlier signed the Crimea Declaration, which reiterates that the United States does not recognize Crimea as part of the Russian Federation and that some of the U.S. sanctions against Russia will remain in effect until the peninsula is returned to Ukraine.

The Russian embassy to the U.S. suggested in response to this declaration that the Washington should recognize Kosovo as part of Serbia.