MOSCOW, January 21. /TASS/. There is no such thing as the "Crimean issue" and therefore it is not subject to discussion, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said about Kiev’s speculations about the possibility of some negotiations over the peninsula’s future in the expanded Geneva format.
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"The issue of Crimea does not exist as such," Peskov said. "Naturally, it will be impossible to discuss it."
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko earlier declared intention to create an international group for starting negotiations on Crimea’s return to Ukraine in a Geneva Plus format, with the European Union, the United States and, possibly, other countries taking part.
The authorities of Crimea and Sevastopol on March 16, 2014 held a referendum on the issue of reunification with Russia. More than 80% of those eligible to vote took part. As many as 96.7% of Crimeans and 95.6% of the residents of Sevastopol voted for reunification with Russia. On March 18 President Vladimir Putin signed into law the treaty on incorporating the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol into Russia. On March 21 it was ratified by the Federal Assembly.
Although the results of the referendum were more than convincing Kiev refused to recognize Crimea as part of Russia.