U.S. Department of State: Restoration of Ukrainian sovereignty must include Crimea

The settlement process in eastern Ukraine must take place peacefully, without military aggression, on the basis of the Minsk agreements, until the full restoration of Ukrainian sovereignty over its internationally recognized borders, including Crimea.

The U.S. Department of State released a corresponding statement following Blinken–Kuleba talks in Stockholm.

“Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Kuleba discussed the need for a diplomatic, peaceful resolution to the conflict in the Donbas and the full restoration of Ukrainian sovereignty over its internationally recognized borders, including Crimea, in the face of ongoing Russian aggression,” reads the statement by Ned Price, Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State.

As noted, Blinken reconfirmed the United States’ commitment to Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity and stressed the full implementation of the Minsk agreements as the best path forward.

The parties also discussed ways to deepen the bilateral relationship.

On Thursday, the U.S. Secretary of State and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine met in Stockholm on the margins of the OSCE Ministerial Meeting. They discussed the military threat coming from Russia related to the build-up of Russian troops near the borders of Ukraine.

Blinken blamed Russia for non-compliance with the Minsk agreements on the peaceful settlement of the Kremlin-initiated conflict in eastern Ukraine.

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