US will keep sanctions on Russia in place until it ends its occupation of Crimea – Granholm

The United States supports Ukraine and the Crimea Platform and will keep sanctions on Russia in place until it ends its occupation of Crimea and its aggression in eastern Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm has said.

She said this in her speech at the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform in Kyiv on Monday, August 23, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"We will keep sanctions on Russia in place until Russia ends its occupation of Crimea and its aggression in eastern Ukraine. We will continue to reiterate that Russia must uphold its commitments under the Minsk agreements and work in good faith to end the conflict. And we will continue to support the Crimea Platform, keeping true to our long-held view that Crimea is Ukraine, will always be Ukraine, and that Russia must be held accountable for its aggression," Granholm said.

She said that the United States was proud to participate in and support the Crimea Platform.

"Let me be clear -- we stand with Ukraine and with all you in condemning the illegal annexation of Crimea," she said.

Granholm also said that the United States is proud to have stood with Ukraine throughout three decades of Ukraine's independence.

"Our partnership will be solidified even further next week when our two presidents meet in Washington D.C.," she said.

On behalf of President Biden, Granholm reaffirmed U.S. support for Ukraine in its efforts to advance reforms, to achieve its Euro-Atlantic aspirations, and to deliver a better future for all Ukrainians, "and that includes your fight against corruption and your broader fight against Russian aggression."

"I also want to affirm and reinforce that our support will remain concrete and substantial. We have provided some $4.9 billion in security and development assistance to Ukraine since 2014 alone. This support will certainly continue, as will security assistance for Ukraine's Armed Forces -- including lethal defensive weapons that Ukraine needs to defend itself against Russia's aggression. At the same time, we will continue our diplomatic efforts with allies and partners to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine," Granholm said.

The Crimea Platform summit started in Kyiv on Monday, August 23. It is attended by 46 delegations.

The Crimea Platform is a new consultative and coordination format initiated by Ukraine to step up the efficiency of international response to the occupation of Crimea, respond to growing security challenges, increase international pressure on Russia, prevent further human rights violations, protect victims of the occupation regime, and achieve the main goal: to de-occupy Crimea and restore Ukraine’s sovereignty over the peninsula.

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