During an MSNBC interview at the Vatican on Friday, former Secretary of State John Kerry became visibly defensive when questioned about the Obama administration’s response to Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Journalist Chris Jansing raised the topic, prompting Kerry to interrupt repeatedly, insisting, “We did not allow them to annex it.”

Despite Kerry’s claim, Russia did in fact seize Crimea, a move condemned globally as a breach of international law. While the Obama administration imposed sanctions in response, critics have long argued that the measures failed to deter Russia or reverse the occupation.

Jansing noted that Russia had declared the region its own, to which Kerry countered, “That does not make it theirs,” asserting that the U.S. opposed the annexation and upheld international norms.

The tense exchange underscores ongoing debate over the effectiveness of the U.S. response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine during the Obama years—a topic that continues to shape foreign policy discussions today.

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