The Kremlin rejected statements made by U.S. President Joe Biden regarding Crimea, asserting that there was no "forced annexation" of the peninsula and that the annexation was legal.
U.S. President Joe Biden stated that "the United States has not and will not recognize Crimea's dependence on Russia and will confront Russian hostile actions against Ukraine." In a statement issued last Friday, the U.S. President described Russia as "violating international law and the sovereignty of its neighbor Ukraine by intervening in Crimea seven years ago," adding: "The United States continues to stand with Ukraine and its allies and partners today, as it has since the beginning of this conflict. On this somber occasion, we reaffirm a simple truth: Crimea is part of Ukraine." He emphasized that the United States "will stand with Ukraine against Russian aggressive actions" and "will continue to work to punish Russia for its violations and aggression in Ukraine."
The Crimean Peninsula returned to Russia after the vast majority of its residents voted in favor of this move in a popular referendum held in March 2014, following the ousting of the Yanukovych government and the outbreak of armed conflict in southeastern Ukraine between the Kyiv government and the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics. In response to this annexation, European countries imposed sanctions on Russia, although Moscow insists that Crimea's reintegration into Russia was entirely in accordance with international law.
