GURZUF /Crimea/, July 26. /TASS/. The Crimean Peninsula is an integral part of the Russian Federation and the issue of its status is closed, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya told reporters on Thursday, commenting on the United States’ Crimea Declaration.

"The Russian president has already answered this question," he said "Crimea is a part of the Russian Federation. The matter is closed for us. We know that we have different views on it but the matter is closed once and for all as far as we are concerned," he added.

On Wednesday, the US administration issued a document signed by Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, which reaffirms Washington’s rejection of Crimea’s reunification with Russia.

Crimean reunification

After Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich was ousted in a coup in February 2014, mass protests erupted in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. On March 11, 2014, Crimea’s Supreme Council and Sevastopol City Council adopted a declaration of independence.

On March 16, 2014, Crimean authorities held a referendum on reuniting with Russia. Over 80% of voters participated in the plebiscite, most of them supporting the idea (96.7% in Crimea and 95.6% in the city of Sevastopol).

On March 18, President Vladimir Putin signed the treaty on Crimea’s reunification with Russia and the Federal Assembly (parliament) approved the document on March 21.

However, Ukraine, the United States and the European Union refused to acknowledge Crimea as part of Russia.