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OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON

MAY 7, 2020

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus:‎

Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo spoke with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba yesterday.  Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Minister Kuleba discussed Ukraine’s efforts to achieve a diplomatic resolution to the Russia-instigated conflict in Ukraine’s Donbas region and the results of the April 30 Normandy Format virtual Foreign Ministerial.  The Secretary commended Ukraine’s conflict diplomacy in the face of Russia’s intransigence and continued aggressive behavior.  The Secretary reiterated resolute U.S. support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and emphasized that the United States will continue to impose costs on Russia, including through sanctions, until Russia implements the Minsk agreements and ends its occupation of Crimea.  The Secretary and Foreign Minister stressed the continued importance of COVID mitigation, and the Secretary urged further progress on rule of law and economic reforms.  Secretary Pompeo condemned Russia’s and its proxies’ efforts to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic by spreading disinformation and further restricting the movement of OSCE monitors and humanitarian organizations in eastern Ukraine.