Vladimir Putin has refused to hand back Crimea to Ukraine despite claims by the White House that Russia was prepared to cede the disputed area.

The Kremlin announced earlier today it would not hand back the peninsula to Ukraine or discuss the issue with any foreign partners despite Donald Trump's confidence that a deal could be struck.

Moscow claimed an overwhelming majority of Crimeans voted to become part of Russia in a 2014 referendum wanting protection from what the Kremlin cast as an illegal coup in Kiev.

The Kremlin said Donald Trump did not raise the issue of Crimea during his phone conversation with Vladimir Putin from the Oval Office, pictured

The Kremlin said Putin, pictured, has no intention handing back Crimea to the Ukraine

Ukraine complained a referendum in Crimea in 2014, pictured, was 'held at gun point'

Ukraine described the referendum as a sham held at gunpoint after Russian troops illegally annexed the peninsula. Kiev has insisted that Crimea should be returned to its control.

Maria Zakharova, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said: 'We don't give back our own territory. Crimea is territory belonging to the Russian Federation.'

The 2014 annexation prompted the United States and the European Union to impose sanctions on Russia, plunging Western relations with the Kremlin to their worst level since the Cold War.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on Tuesday that Trump expected and wanted to get along with Russia, but was expecting Moscow to hand Crimea back.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, when asked about Spicer's comments, said President Vladimir Putin had already explained why Crimeans had turned to Russia.

Peskov said: 'The theme of returning Crimea will not be discussed ... Russia does not discuss its territorial integrity with foreign partners.'

Kremlin officials described relations with the White House as in 'a lamentable state'

Trump had not raised the Crimean issue in a January 28 phone call with Putin, Peskov noted, saying the Kremlin would try to make contacts with the Trump administration to try to improve ties which he said were in 'a lamentable state'.

Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, told MPs any talk of Crimea's status amounted to a challenge to Russia's territorial integrity.

Volodin, a close Putin ally, told the Interfax news agency Trump had promised in his election campaign to work to improve relations with Russia.

He said: 'Let's wait for some first-hand words from the U.S. president.

'When people get elected by voters it's not merely for warm words and the ability to speak, but for concrete promises ... that will be fulfilled.'