Naryshkin stressed the impossibility of transferring Crimea to Ukraine

The transfer of Crimea to Ukraine is impossible. Thus, the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation, Sergei Naryshkin, commented on Kyiv’s statements about its intentions to work on the “return of Crimea”, transmits TASS.

“It’s impossible,” he stressed.

Crimea became part of Russia in 2014 after a referendum. According to its results, 96.77% of voters in the Republic of Crimea and 95.6% in Sevastopol were in favor of joining Russia. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that the issue of Crimea is “finally closed.”

Nevertheless, Kyiv continues to insist that Crimea is Ukrainian territory and accuses Russia of “occupying” the peninsula. The Ukrainian authorities have also repeatedly spoken about plans to “return” Crimea, including by military means. In particular, at the end of December 2022, in an interview with The Guardian, the head of the office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, said that Kyiv would “do everything possible” for this in 2023.

In addition, at the initiative of Ukraine, in August 2022, the Crimean Platform summit was held for the second time, the purpose of which, among other things, is the “return” of Crimea. The event was attended by Western leaders. The Russian authorities declared the anti-Russian and unfriendly nature of the event. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov named forum “coven”.

Since February 24, 2022, Russia has been conducting a special operation in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the protection of the inhabitants of Donbass, as well as the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, its goals. During the special operation, Russian troops took full control of the LPR, as well as most of the DPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. Subsequently, these territories became part of Russia.

After the start of the special operation, the Russian Federation and Ukraine met several times at the negotiating table. The previous meeting took place in Istanbul on March 29. Then the Ukrainian side submitted written proposals to resolve the conflict, which included the abandonment of plans to return Crimea by military means.

Head of the Russian delegation at the talks, presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky declaredthat Russia does not agree with the wording about the possibility of returning Crimea and Sevastopol through diplomatic channels.