Putin: Russian businesses can start operating in Crimea

Russian major businesses, including banks, can now start operating in Crimea without fear of sanctions, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday at a meeting with top officials from Russia and Crimea ahead of the 8th anniversary of the Russian annexation of the peninsula.

"Now there are all conditions for large Russian business structures, which, frankly, used to be afraid of some sanctions, now they have nothing to fear. Now they can easily come, including banks by the way, to the peninsula and work actively," Putin said 

The developments in Donbas proved that the choice of Crimean citizens to be together with Russia was right, the Russian President stressed. "The past years have convincingly proved how correct and timely this choice was. Just look at what is happening today in the Donbas, and everything immediately becomes clear," Putin said.