'..any conversation about the future of European security will have to start with Crimea.'

<blockquote>'A point that we have made here [at the OSCE] when Russian representatives say they want to have a conversation about the future of European security is that any conversation about the future of European security will have to start with Crimea.'

- Ambassador Daniel Baer (Source, July 30, 2016)</blockquote>


Context

<blockquote>'..has called on Russia to withdraw its forces and military equipment from Ukraine and to stop supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine.'

'..willing to negotiate directly with separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine..'

'..Russia appears to be behind attempts to spread a separatist policy elsewhere in the country..'


'..the Soviet Union was cut off from Western financial markets and was effectively under permanent sanctions..'</blockquote>