WASHINGTON, Rajab 10, 1435, May 9, 2014, SPA -- The United States criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Crimea on Friday as provocative and repeated the U.S. rejection of Moscow's annexation of the Black Sea peninsula, Reuters reported. "This trip is provocative and unnecessary. Crimea belongs to Ukraine and we don't recognize, of course, the illegal and illegitimate steps by Russia in that regard," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters at her daily briefing. -- SPA 20:44 LOCAL TIME 17:44 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1230608