The US State Department is concerned about the growing presence of Russian troops in the occupied Crimea and around the borders of Ukraine, and also called on the Russian Federation to return full control of the peninsula to Ukraine.
“The United States is deeply concerned about Russia's continued aggressive actions and rhetoric against Ukraine, including an increase in the presence of Russian troops in Crimea and around Ukraine's borders”,- the statement said.
The statement stressed that Crimea is Ukraine. The United States will never recognize the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.
“We call on Russia to return full control over the peninsula to Ukraine”,- the State Department added.