Great Britain will never recognize a sham "referendum" of Russia in Crimea, which is blatant disrespect for Ukrainian and international norms, British Ambassador to Ukraine Melinda Simmons said.

"Seven years ago, Russia held a sham 'referendum' in an attempt to legitimize its illegal control of the peninsula. The UK will never recognize this blatant disrespect for Ukrainian and international norms. Our message remains clear: Russia must return Crimea to Ukraine," Simmons wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.