President Vladimir Putin christened a new bridge connecting Russia to Crimea, a construction Ukraine and the West opposed.
The 12-mile bridge is the first to connect Russia to the contested peninsula largely recognized as Ukraine's territory. Ukraine, the U.S. and other western nations said "Putin's bridge," as its come to be known, is a flagrant violation of international law.
The U.S. State Department said the bridge blocks larger ships from reaching the Sea of Azov, Ukraine's territorial waters. The U.S. has sanctioned Russian companies and individuals involved in building the bridge.
