WASHINGTON, May 20. /TASS/. The United States is not seeking any changes in the format of settling the armed conflict in Ukraine, State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke has told reporters.
"We’re not changing that format. And we’re not suggesting a change to that format. We support that format; we’re actively engaged diplomatically; we’re deepening our engagement broadly. That’s not to change any particular format," Rathke said.
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He commented on Tuesday’s meetings of the sub-groups of the trilateral Contact group on security and humanitarian issues and confirmed that the US representatives did not take part in the consultations.
The US is "not a direct party" of the Contact group but Washington certainly supports the working subgroups, he said.
US officials, including Secretary of State John Kerry and his assistant for European and Eurasian affairs Victoria Nuland, have recently signaled that Washington was interested in deepening its role in the diplomatic effort in Ukraine.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has stressed that Moscow sees no reason for the possible US participation in the Normandy format of settlement in Ukraine and the activity of the Contact group.