US State Department spokesman Ned Price spoke with Voice of America correspondent Natalka Pisney about the outcome of Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s visit to Kyiv, the “homework” for the Ukrainian government, and US plans for the Normandy format. Price also expressed support for the journalists being persecuted in Russia.
Kyiv. Ukraine. Ukraine Gate – May 11, 2021 – Diplomatic Affairs
Natalka Pisnya: On a practical level, what do the results of Secretary of State Blinken’s visit to Kyiv look like?
Ned Price: Secretary Blinken and, more importantly, President Biden decided that it was very important to go to Ukraine, to Kyiv, as soon as possible after this US administration got down to work.
This is a signal to our Ukrainian partners that we are interested in our partnership. The United States of America will support Ukraine, support and stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainians who are repelling external aggression from Russia. Russia is also trying to destroy what Ukrainians are doing inside their country, to destroy the feeling of sovereignty and independence that Ukrainians aspire to. We talked a lot about Russian aggression, about Moscow’s intimidation, we also discussed corruption and the need for reform. This is necessary in order for Kyiv, the Ukrainians, to be able to move forward, to realize the Euro-Atlantic aspirations, to which both the people and the country’s leadership are committed.
NP: Secretary Blinken has had several meetings in London, including with his G7 colleagues. Is there a signal that the Normandy format will be expanded and the United States will join it?
Ned Price: We met with colleagues not only in the G7, but we were also twice (at the headquarters) of NATO. We have been to Brussels twice in the last 3-4 months since the Secretary of State took office, and I think these trips are an important signal in themselves. And we felt the unity of all 30 NATO member countries in supporting Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression and intimidation attempts. This also reflects what we have heard from representatives of the G7 countries. Thus, both NATO and the G7 declared their support for the Ukrainian people and partnership with Kyiv. As for the United States and our role, we are deeply involved in the process, we are making and will continue to make diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea,
NP: Do the administration and the State Department have any plans to appoint a special envoy for Ukraine?
Ned Price: We will continue to invest in diplomacy and will do so together with Ukraine, France, Germany, and other European partners. We will do what makes the most sense to achieve our goal of supporting Ukraine, its sovereignty, its territorial integrity on land and at sea. Once again, we will do what makes the most sense and what will lead us to success.
NP: Speaking about the role of Russia, the position of the United States, President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken has repeatedly said that they do not want escalation, but here is a quote from an interview with Secretary of State Blinken: “If Russia continues its aggressive and reckless actions against Ukraine or another state, threaten our interests, we will respond. ” What will this answer look like?
Ned Price: We shouldn’t talk about hypothetical issues, I think the signal that we sent when we arrived in Kyiv, the presence of Secretary of State Blinken, says that we will continue to partner and support Ukraine. The actions of the Russian Federation, intimidation on its part, attempts at aggression are nothing more than attempts to resist the United States.
NP: The United States continues to put pressure on the Kremlin in relation to the situation with Alexei Navalny, and in relation to pressure on freedom of speech, in particular, we are talking about the persecution, for example, of employees of Radio Liberty in Russia. Are you considering the possibility of introducing additional sanctions in this regard?
Ned Price: Secretary of State Blinken gave an interview to Radio Liberty the day before. We decided to do this for several reasons. Thus, Secretary of State Blinken celebrated World Press Freedom Day, which is celebrated on May 3. But we also thought it would be important to sit down and talk to RFE / RL, given the harassment and intimidation she is subjected to while working in Russia. What the Russian Federation is trying to do in relation to Radio Liberty clearly demonstrates that Vladimir Putin is not confident in the strength of his position.
His administration is trying to tighten rules on free information flows because they have something to hide. We will continue to support independent journalists around the world. We will continue to support Radio Liberty and Radio Free Europe, standing shoulder to shoulder with those independent journalists who try to tell the truth, sometimes at risk, sometimes at risk of their lives.
Last week, Secretary of State Blinken was able to meet with journalists from all over the world who faced harassment, intimidation, threats only because they were fulfilling their professional duties, because they were trying to use the world-recognized right to freedom of expression and freedom of access to information.
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Source: Ukrgate
