Editor's Note: The following is a March 15 statement from the U.S. State Department on the second anniversary of Russia's attempted annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.
US says Crimean-related sanctions will remain in place as Russia occupies Ukraine’s peninsula
Children hold portraits of Russia's President Vladimir Putin as they take part in a rally to mark Defender of the Fatherland Day in the Crimean city of Sevastopol, on Feb. 23. The Defender of the Fatherland Day, celebrated in Russia on Feb. 23, honours the nation's army and is a nationwide holiday.
