Batkivshchyna faction leader Yulia Tymoshenko says the U.S. will not remove sanctions from the Russian Federation until the conflict in Eastern Ukraine is resolved and Crimea is returned under the jurisdiction of Ukraine.
“I held a number of meetings in the U.S. and was happy to hear the official statement by the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations that they will not remove sanctions from Ukraine until Crimea is freed,” Yulia Tymoshenko told journalists after today’s Coordinating Council of Parliamentary Faction and Committee Heads.
She said Ukraine received an official notification from the U.S. and the new American government and that this is a “big signal for Ukraine that we will be supported and sanctions will continue.”
She stressed that the U.S. and newly elected President Donald Trump have expressed support for Ukraine.
“I met with new U.S. President Donald Trump and heard from him support for a democratic, free, and European Ukraine. I am confident that support from Ukraine’s great friend will continue and strengthen,” the politician said.
Yulia Tymoshenko also stressed that she heard the same kind of support from senators and congressmen who “understand what is happening in Ukraine, and who expressed support of Ukraine.”
The politician also told journalists that in addition to the issue of increasing sanctions against the Russian Federation, she also discussed with senor diplomats providing Ukraine with defensive weapons.
“At every meeting in the U.S. I raised the issue of strengthening sanctions against Russia as the aggressor country and providing Ukraine with defensive weapons. I hope that U.S. policy will support Ukraine,” the Batkivshchyna leader said.
