The United States will not conduct a military operation against Crimea, former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul told newspaper Ukrainskaya Pravda.
US soldiers will not be sent into battle against Russia soldiers to liberate Crimea.
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) April 24, 2015
McFaul said that although the US will never recognize Crimea's reunification with Russia, improved relations between the two countries would be necessary for political change in Russia to happen.
In the interview, McFaul said that Ukrainians are thinking like Russian President Vladimir Putin when they believe that the US will respond to militarily to Crimea's reunification with Russia.
In a February 1 interview to CNN, US President Barack Obama admitted that the US "had brokered a deal to transition power in Ukraine."
McFaul added that for Crimea to ever become part of Ukraine again, it would need to undergo successful economic and political reforms, as well as defeat corruption.
