“Crimea returned to the Russian Federation on the basis of the decision of the Crimean people, on the basis of the results of the referendum, which was held in compliance with all international rights, plus the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, which we had at that time. To speak today either to the Americans or to someone else about the return of the Crimea is, to put it mildly, incorrect, ”said Gempel.
He stressed that Crimeans made their final choice.
“The fact that Americans often behave like an elephant in a china shop, of course, causes a complete rejection of the Crimeans. Therefore, I would like to advise our foreign "friends" to deal primarily with their internal and external problems, and not to go to us, to the Russian Federation. Crimea was determined finally and irrevocably, ”concluded Gempel.
Earlier, Pompeo said that the Crimea "must return" to Ukraine.
Crimea became the Russian region after the referendum held in March 2014, in which the majority of residents spoke in favor of reunification with Russia.