The US State Department released a statement by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken ahead of his visit to Ukraine.
“We value Ukraine for its constant restraint and made it clear in our interaction with Moscow that Russia should refrain from escalating actions. Crimea is Ukraine. The United States does not and will never recognize Russia’s proposed annexation of the Crimean Peninsula. We call on Russia to return full control over the peninsula to Ukraine”, – the US Secretary of State said in a statement.
Blinken also noted the importance of fighting corruption and conducting judicial reform in Ukraine, which is “the key to Ukraine’s achievement of its Euro-Atlantic aspirations and building a prosperous, secure and democratic future”.