US DoS: Ukraine, Georgia have right to choose best futures for their people
“Over the past three decades, Russia interfered in elections, used chemical weapons to attempt assassinations both on foreign soil and domestically and violated international arms control agreements,” the statement reads. Photo: Win Mcnamme/Getty Images.
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Ukraine, Georgia and other states in Europe “have the right to choose the best futures for their people, including an aspiration to join the Euro-Atlantic community and NATO,” the United States Department of State has said ahead of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Ukraine.
The statement recalls Russian invasions of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova - three of its neighbouring countries - declaring the US and NATO “will be raising the issues with Russia in the days and weeks ahead.”
Over the past three decades, Russia interfered in elections, used chemical weapons to attempt assassinations both on foreign soil and domestically and violated international arms control agreements,” the statement reads.
The Department of State has also reiterated the US’s commitment to a diplomatic resolution of the aforementioned issues with Russia.
Blinken will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba today.
The meetings will be followed by meetings with the German government in Berlin “to discuss recent diplomatic engagements with Russia and joint efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine,” the US State Department announced.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said that NATO allies have called on Russia to withdraw forces from Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova at a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council held earlier today.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said yesterday in an interview with CNN that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s objective of ‘re-exert[ing] a sphere of influence over countries that previously were part of the Soviet Union is unacceptable.'
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has denounced Russia's military aggression against Ukraine as a 'threat' to European security following a NATO council held yesterday, noting that Russia invaded neighbouring Georgia and Ukraine and violated international arms control agreements over the last two decades.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said that the alliance will 'continue to provide support' to Georgia and Ukraine on their way towards Euro-Atlantic integration.
Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 and thirteen years later “nearly 300,000 Georgians are still displaced from their homes,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has expressed solidarity to Ukraine and its people stating “Georgia stands with Ukraine” amid high tension at the country’s border due to the build-up of Russian troops.
The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili has expressed solidarity with Ukraine and its citizens, stating “all efforts, deeds and words should be directed to prevent a new war” in the country, on the backdrop of heightened tensions between NATO and Russia.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani held a phone talk with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba on Monday during which they discussed “common challenges” related to Russian occupation, the Georgian Foreign Ministry announces.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that Russia should withdraw its forces from Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, noting “they are deployed without these countries’ consent.” He underscored that NATO respects Georgia’s and Ukraine’s decision to apply for membership of the alliance, adding it is the reason why NATO “has engaged in a very strong and close partnership with both these countries.”