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Russia sees no change in EU stance on Crimea — ambassador

Ukraine, the EU and the US refused to recognize Crimea's independence and reunification of the peninsular territory with Russia
A landscape in Crimea Vladimir Smirnov/TASS
A landscape in Crimea
© Vladimir Smirnov/TASS

MOSCOW, April 1. /TASS/. There has been no change in the EU's stance on Crimea, the Russian ambassador to the EU, Viktor Chizhov said in an interview published by the Izvestia daily on Friday.

"Alas, we can't say the EU has mildened its position on Crimea," he said. "Its official stance has seen no changes."

"I think it's plainly obvious this position doesn't reflect objective reality," Chizhov said. "The fact is isn't shared by separate EU politicians, including MEPs, is laudable but unfortunately it doesn't change the overall picture. But as the famous saying goes, never say never."

On March 11, 2014, Crimea's Supreme Council and the city hall of Sevastopol adopted a declaration on independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol from their former master nation, Ukraine, on the background of the sweeping political crisis and the change of state power in Kiev.

On March 16, the residents of Crimea and Sevastopol voted in a referendum on reunification with Russia. With the turnout at the polls exceeding 80%, a total of 96.77% voters in Crimea and 95.6% voters in Sevastopol cast ballots in favor of the reunification. A treaty on incorporation of the two new constituent territories in the Russian Federation was signed on March 18.

Ukraine, the EU and the US refused to recognize Crimea's independence and reunification of the peninsular territory with Russia.