The US House of Representatives prohibits recognition of Russia’s annexation of the Crimea
The US House of Representatives adopted a bill prohibiting the United States Government from recognizing Russia’s annexation of the Crimea as legitimate. The bill is known as the Crimea Annexation Non-recognition Act. 427 members voted in favor, and one voted against, the House’s press service reported on Twitter.
The text of the bill consists of two articles. The first relates to the name of the document. The second stated that It is the policy of the United States not to recognize the de jure or de facto sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters.
A sub-paragraph of the second article further prohibits any Federal department or agency from taking any action or extending any assistance that recognizes or implies recognition of said sovereignty. However, the third subparagraph of the second article states that the President may waive that subsection if the President determines that it is vital to the national security interests of the United States to do so.
The document was introduced to the House of Representatives on January 16.