Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has commented on Kyiv's condition on the return of Crimea to Ukraine, Report informs, citing TASS.
"This is not a topic for discussions. Crimea is part of Russia," the minister said in his interview with Al Jazeera.
Russia annexed the Ukraine’s autonomous republic of Crimea in February 2014. After that, military operations began in the Donbas region of Ukraine. As a result, Donetsk and Luhansk regions came under the control of the separatists. Fighting broke out between the Ukrainian Armed Forces and militants from the Russian-backed Donetsk and Luhansk republics. Moscow has denied involvement in the fighting.
On February 24, Russia levied war on Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leadership is demanding the withdrawal of the Russian troops from Ukrainian territory, including the return of Crimea.