MOSCOW
Crimea is part of Russia and there will be no discussions on handing it to Ukraine, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov has declared.
The Kremlin comments came in response to a statement from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry saying relations between Moscow and Kiev could not be normalized until Crimea passed to Ukraine.
Peskov said: "Giving Crimea back to Ukraine or any other unacceptable suggestions are out of the question."
Russia annexed Crimea in March after a controversial referendum in the strategic peninsula, declaring unilateral independence and integration with Russia.
