“If Ukraine is admitted to NATO, there will be a real threat that the regime in Kiev will try to “return” Crimea by force, drawing the United States and its allies, in accordance with Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, into a direct armed conflict with Russia, with all the ensuing consequences,” - the message says.
The document mentions that the “accusations of Russia that it “occupied Crimea” contained in the American response also do not stand up to scrutiny.”
“In 2014, a coup d’etat took place in Kiev, the initiators of which, with the support of the United States and its allies, headed for the creation of a nationalist state that infringes on the rights of the Russian and Russian-speaking population, as well as other “non-titular” ethnic groups,” recalled in Moscow.
“It is not surprising” that in such a situation, the Crimeans voted for reunification with Russia, the ministry stressed.
As Russian President Vladimir Putin noted earlier, if Ukraine is accepted into NATO and its attempts to seize Crimea by military means, the countries of Europe will automatically be drawn into the war.
He stressed that there will be no winners in such a conflict.
Crimea became a Russian region after a referendum held there in March 2014, in which the majority of the inhabitants of the peninsula spoke in favor of reunification with Russia.