Russia rejects US demands to return Crimea

Russia rejected US demands that it return control of Crimea to Ukraine.

"We do not give our territories back," Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, according to Interfax.

The Russian Federation annexed Crimea, which includes the naval base at Sevastopol, where its Black Sea fleet is based, in 2014.

The day before the White House said that:"President Trump has made it very clear that he expects the Russian government to deescalate violence in the Ukraine and return Crimea," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said at a daily news briefing. "At the same time, he fully expects to and wants to get along with Russia."

Historically, Russia has been very aggressive over control of the region to ensure its access to the Mediterranean Sea.

Relations between the US and Russia have been at a severely low level since the latter's annexation of Crimea, and Trump's victory and subsequent claims alleging the Kremlin attempted to influence the election have not helped.

On Wednesday senior Russian lawmaker Leonid Slutsky told media that Trump's actions were "alarming", but suggested that it was simply part of a transitional phase in which he has to respect the actions of the establishment.

"Of course, such rhetoric is alarming but we understand this is the stance that most of the US establishment shares," Slutsky said. "Trump could not be expected to oppose his country’s elite at the very beginning of his presidency."

"Let's be real. There is still a chance that Russian-US relations will improve. But nevertheless, such statements are like a cold shower that will cool down high expectations from Trump and his team," the chairman of the Russian Duma added.