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US to continue military assistance to Ukraine, Blinken says

Secretary of State emphasized strong bipartisan support for Ukraine and the priority the United States places on Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and Euro-Atlantic aspirations

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Alex Edelman/Pool via AP

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

© Alex Edelman/Pool via AP

WASHINGTON, February 2. /TASS/. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed in a phone conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba on Tuesday that Washington would continue robust US economic and military assistance to Kiev, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said.

"The Secretary emphasized strong bipartisan support for Ukraine and the priority the United States places on Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. He [Blinken] pledged to continue robust US economic and military assistance to Ukraine," according to the statement.

Blinken also "highlighted the importance of Ukraine maintaining progress on fighting corruption and implementing rule of law and economic reforms that will strengthen Ukraine’s institutions and ensure a bright and prosperous future for all Ukrainians."

"The Secretary and Foreign Minister Kuleba also discussed Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to combat COVID-19, and to achieve a diplomatic resolution to Russia’s aggression in eastern Ukraine and Crimea," according to the statement.

After the coup d’etat in Ukraine in February 2014, Crimea and Sevastopol held a referendum, in which 96.7% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol voters chose to secede from Ukraine and join Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the reunification deal on March 18, 2014, which the Federation Council (upper house of the Russian parliament) ratified on March 21, 2014. Despite the results of the referendum, Kiev refused to recognize Crimea as a part of Russia.

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