Trump expects Russia to ‘return Crimea' – White House

**Shah-Jehan** · 02-15-2017, 01:06 AM

US President Donald Trump has been tough on Russia and expects Moscow to “return” the Crimea peninsula to Ukraine, the White House spokesman told reporters.
Addressing the resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn – hounded by the media over his contacts with Russian diplomats prior to Trump’s inauguration – Spicer pointed out that Russia “seized” Crimea under the Obama administration and that the Trump-appointed ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has “strongly denounced the Russian occupation.”

"President Trump has made it very clear that he expects the Russian government to de-escalate violence in the Ukraine and return Crimea," Spicer said at the daily news briefing on Tuesday. “At the same time, he fully expects to – and wants to – get along with Russia."

“Crimea is a part of Ukraine. Our Crimea-related sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns control of the peninsula to Ukraine,” Haley said at the UN Security Council meeting on February 2.

Russian envoy Vitaly Churkin responded by citing the US Constitution and pointing out that Crimeans overwhelmingly voted to join Russia, after the US-backed coup in February 2014 overthrew the elected government in Kiev.

It is in the national and economic interest of the US to have a good relationship with Russia, Spicer explained, but said that Haley “speaks for the president” on the matter of Crimea.

Flynn’s resignation on Monday followed several weeks of media furor over his telephone conversation with the Russian ambassador to the US in December, after the outgoing Obama administration expelled 35 Russian diplomats and seized two properties. Moscow chose not to respond in kind.

“There is nothing that General Flynn did that was a violation of any sort,” Spicer said, explaining that the adviser was asked to resign because of Trump’s “eroding trust” after Flynn’s accounts of the conversation to administration officials did not square with what was leaked to the media.

Crimea became part of Russia in 1783, but was reassigned to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1954 by the Soviet Union’s ruling Presidium. Following the 2014 coup, Crimeans overwhelmingly voted to rejoin Russia in a referendum.

Other regions of Ukraine also resisted the new government. Kiev was able to brutally suppress dissent in Odessa and Kharkov, but ran into armed resistance in Donetsk and Lugansk. Efforts to negotiate a peaceful resolution between Kiev and the two breakaway regions, known as the Minsk Accords, make no mention of Crimea.

https://www.rt.com/usa/377346-spicer...return-crimea/

**Loki** · 02-15-2017, 01:07 AM

Will never happen lol

**Shah-Jehan** · 02-15-2017, 01:10 AM

Originally Posted by Loki

Will never happen lol

Yeah, Crimea should be a part of Russia, since they were the ones that conquered it from the Crimean Khanate and the majority of the population is Russian anyway. As long as the Crimean Tatars' rights are maintained in Crimea, I support Crimea being a part of Russia. Their rights are probably better than if Crimea was part of Ukraine, since they've been given 'titular nationality' status for the Crimean Republic.

**Loki** · 02-15-2017, 01:10 AM

They can't expect to have good relations with Russia while making impossible demands. Fuck them. Hail Putin. Hail Russia.

**Norka** · 02-15-2017, 01:11 AM

What a fucking joke. This balding cuck really expects that to happen? Ha!

**Mortimer** · 02-15-2017, 01:13 AM

Originally Posted by Shah-Jehan

US President Donald Trump has been tough on Russia and expects Moscow to “return” the Crimea peninsula to Ukraine, the White House spokesman told reporters.
Addressing the resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn – hounded by the media over his contacts with Russian diplomats prior to Trump’s inauguration – Spicer pointed out that Russia “seized” Crimea under the Obama administration and that the Trump-appointed ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has “strongly denounced the Russian occupation.”

"President Trump has made it very clear that he expects the Russian government to de-escalate violence in the Ukraine and return Crimea," Spicer said at the daily news briefing on Tuesday. “At the same time, he fully expects to – and wants to – get along with Russia."

“Crimea is a part of Ukraine. Our Crimea-related sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns control of the peninsula to Ukraine,” Haley said at the UN Security Council meeting on February 2.

Russian envoy Vitaly Churkin responded by citing the US Constitution and pointing out that Crimeans overwhelmingly voted to join Russia, after the US-backed coup in February 2014 overthrew the elected government in Kiev.

It is in the national and economic interest of the US to have a good relationship with Russia, Spicer explained, but said that Haley “speaks for the president” on the matter of Crimea.

Flynn’s resignation on Monday followed several weeks of media furor over his telephone conversation with the Russian ambassador to the US in December, after the outgoing Obama administration expelled 35 Russian diplomats and seized two properties. Moscow chose not to respond in kind.

“There is nothing that General Flynn did that was a violation of any sort,” Spicer said, explaining that the adviser was asked to resign because of Trump’s “eroding trust” after Flynn’s accounts of the conversation to administration officials did not square with what was leaked to the media.

Crimea became part of Russia in 1783, but was reassigned to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1954 by the Soviet Union’s ruling Presidium. Following the 2014 coup, Crimeans overwhelmingly voted to rejoin Russia in a referendum.

Other regions of Ukraine also resisted the new government. Kiev was able to brutally suppress dissent in Odessa and Kharkov, but ran into armed resistance in Donetsk and Lugansk. Efforts to negotiate a peaceful resolution between Kiev and the two breakaway regions, known as the Minsk Accords, make no mention of Crimea.

https://www.rt.com/usa/377346-spicer...return-crimea/

You probably were happy, because as muslim the last thing you want is that two christian world powers join forces. That being said, it wont happen, and I thought Trump will be pro-russian.

**Shah-Jehan** · 02-15-2017, 01:16 AM

Originally Posted by Mortimer

You probably were happy, because as muslim the last thing you want is that two christian world powers join forces. That being said, it wont happen, and I thought Trump will be pro-russian.

Most people in the Muslim majority countries have very positive feelings regarding Russia and Putin, while US popularity is going down the drain especially after Trump.

**Loki** · 02-15-2017, 01:18 AM

American govt always very rude, insulting and unprofessional towards Russia.

**~~Albobalboa~~** · 02-15-2017, 01:26 AM

This is actually bad news. I was hoping for a trade-off between Crimea and Kosovo, let the Ukrainian/Serboi lapdogs rot.

Anyways it's also good in the way that it's a clear signal the rivalry between US and Russia still stands. Could backfire if tomorrow's news are that "Trump expects Kosovo to be returned to Serbia".

Neutral news is what it really is.

**Mortimer** · 02-15-2017, 01:29 AM

Originally Posted by Shah-Jehan

Most people in the Muslim majority countries have very positive feelings regarding Russia and Putin, while US popularity is going down the drain especially after Trump.

ok but i know that muslims thought of russia as traditional enemy because of chechens, and muslims in russia and turkic tribes etc. and generally as imperialist christian power. they also hate usa, india, israel, serbia etc.

edit: add china to the list after they forbad ramadan