“There was no other expectation”: Russia responded to the US statement on the launch of trains to Crimea

US diplomats must keep track of territorial changes in a timely manner. So, State Duma deputy from Crimea Ruslan Balbek in an interview with RT commented on a statement by American diplomats about the beginning of the mainland railway connection with Crimea.

Earlier, the United States Embassy in Ukraine called the launch of trains on the Crimean bridge a step from Russia, which "demonstrates a blatant disrespect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine."

As Ruslan Balbek, a State Duma deputy from Crimea, put it in an interview with RT, attacks by the American side five years after the reunification of Crimea with Russia are an indicator of complete disregard for Ukrainian diplomats by American diplomats.

“Railway communication with one of the regions of Russia can only cause the joy of the population, first of all, among Crimeans. And the statements of the American embassy, ​​although regrettable, nevertheless will not affect the schedule of trains from mainland Russia to the peninsula, ”the parliamentarian said.

As Balbek noted, the United States deliberately rejects everything that happens in Crimea over the past 5 years, including solving the problems of the peninsula affecting water supply, energy bridge and transport links.

“All the improvements that have been made for residents of the peninsula, the US embassy perceives as a reason for protests. The protests of American diplomats have already become an integral part of Crimean life, ”the deputy said, noting that the Crimeans themselves do not pay attention to these protests.

As the State Duma deputy from Sevastopol Dmitry Belik believes, the statement of the American embassy in Ukraine is also necessary in order not to deviate from the main course of Washington, which today does not consider the referendum democratic and the Russian status of Crimea legitimate.

Crimea became the Russian region after a referendum there, in which most residents spoke out for reunification with Russia.

“But over the past 50 years, Washington has not yet said anything friendly to Russia, which is why I believe that the opinion of the White House can be safely ignored, as well as the statements of the American embassy in Ukraine,” the deputy told RT.

The beginning of train traffic

Recall that on the morning of December 25, the first train arrived from the mainland of Russia to Crimea, which followed the railway of the bridge to the Crimea. The train rode from St. Petersburg for about 43.5 hours. In total, there were about 600 people on the train. The next day, December 26, the first convoy from Moscow arrived on the peninsula.

Earlier, on December 23, Vladimir Putin took part in the opening of railway traffic on the Crimean bridge. The head of state spoke to the builders of the crossing, noting the importance of the project they completed.

“The event is important for the Crimea, and for Sevastopol, for the entire south of Russia, because, of course, infrastructure facilities such as the grandiose bridge that we built will affect the entire economy. But I want to tell you that we are not launching it first, but we are restoring this movement, ”Putin emphasized.

"Elemental envy"

The position indicated by American diplomats demonstrates envy, believes the head of the working group on international legal issues at the Permanent Mission of Crimea to the President of Russia, Alexander Molokhov.

“Another position from the US should not be expected. This is explained by the elementary envy of Russia, which demonstrated to the whole world the ability to independently implement such a large-scale project without any outside help, ”RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.

Molokhov pointed out that the bridge was built even under the conditions of the sanctions that "Western countries so sought to restrain the development of Russia."

According to the Crimean political scientist Vladislav Ganzhara, the statement of the staff of the American embassy can be considered an attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the Russian Federation.

“The Americans do this regularly, giving an assessment of Russia's actions in the Republic of Crimea, which is an integral part of our country and a subject of the Russian Federation. In this context, we also understand that Americans are extremely annoyed by the successes that Russia has achieved in the Republic of Crimea over the past years, ”the expert said in an interview with RT.

He stressed that the launch of the railway part of the bridge in Crimea is the end of the logistic integration of Crimea into Russia. According to him, this event determines the solution of many issues related to the economy and life on the peninsula.

However, the expert drew attention to the fact that the Americans actually began to recognize the existence of a bridge across the Kerch Strait, which they sometimes denied.

“In this sense, they have no choice but to make such statements. The Crimean bridge has been launched, it will function successfully and annoy the Americans, ”the expert concluded.