US calls on Russia to end Crimea occupation: Mike Pompeo

The United States refuses to recognize Russia’s claim of sovereignty over Ukraine’s Crimea and called on Moscow to end its occupation of the peninsula, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday.

“The United States rejects Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea and pledges to maintain this policy until Ukraine’s territorial integrity is restored,” Pompeo said in a statement. “The United States calls on Russia to respect the principles to which it has long claimed to adhere and to end its occupation of Crimea.”

Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; Editing by Leslie Adler