U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE,newsletter

Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis at a Joint Press Availability
03/07/2022

Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis at a Joint Press Availability
03/07/2022 08:55 AM EST
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Vilnius, Lithuania

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

FOREIGN MINISTER LANDSBERGIS: (Via interpreter) Colleagues, good morning. I’m delighted with the opportunity to welcome the U.S. State Secretary and a good friend of mine, Antony Blinken, in Lithuania. We had an opportunity to discuss key and most concerning issues, including Russian war against Ukraine and further actions in support to Ukraine, and how we should strengthen the security of Lithuanian and the entire region. The Untied States, Lithuania, and other partners of the alliance are doing a lot, but we cannot stop. We cannot afford for Ukrainian cities to become another Srebrenica, Grozny, or Aleppo.

Providing assistance to Ukraine has to continue. We have to urge our partners to check their inventories to increase their orders and continue supplying assistance to Ukraine that it needs so much. The Russia initiated war also means humanitarian as well as climate crisis, and we have to do everything that is possible to prevent the humanitarian corridors and safe areas around nuclear power plants from becoming targets of Russian war machine. I’m happy that the U.S. is increasing its presence in the Baltic region in troops and in equipment. U.S. troops are protecting our country, together with other NATO partners. We know that the commitments of our – of the Allies are ironclad, and if we want to continue building even stronger NATO, politically stronger, we need to ensure security of the Baltic states.

Russian economic blockade has not reached total isolation level, and we heard that there were attempts to use unsanctioned banks to evade the already-existing sanctions. So we have to close all the possible gaps. And energy resources that we are using allows Russia to fund its military operation, and we cannot pay for oil and gas with Ukrainian blood. The U.S. stands with Lithuania and the Baltic states. The United States stand here with their commitments, with their troops and capabilities. They are here in reality and not in front of a green screen with the fake microphones.

Together – I’m sorry – today, the Secretary’s visit shows once again that United States stands with Lithuania and the Baltic states, and it also stands with Ukraine and its people.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you very, very much. Gabrielius, thank you so much for the warm welcome. It’s been a real pleasure to be here to be able to spend time with the president, with the prime minister, and with you. And I just have to say for starts, on a personal note, how much I appreciate you as a colleague, how much I appreciate the strength of your voice, your conviction in our own relationship, at NATO, throughout Europe. It makes a big difference, and it’s greatly appreciated. And I’m pleased to be here with our ambassador to Lithuania, Bob Gilchrist, who’s been a terrific leader for the team that I was able to meet with this morning before meeting with our colleagues in the government.

We’re celebrating, the United States and Lithuania, 100 years of diplomatic relations this year. We’re NATO Allies. We’re economic partners. And we share together a deep commitment to democracy, to human rights, to the international rules-based order, which we recognize is the foundation of our shared security and which is being directly threatened by Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified war against Ukraine.

Lithuanians understand the critical importance of every nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity being respected, having lived through decades of Soviet occupation, a forceful occupation that the United States always refused to recognize. In recent years, Moscow has sought to undermine Lithuania’s democracy and sow polarization within its population through cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns. That’s because the free, open, vibrant, prosperous society that the people of Lithuania have built since the end of Soviet occupation shows what’s possible when people choose the path of democracy over autocracy. That’s why the United States supported and advocated for Lithuania’s membership in NATO and the European Union; and this country, Lithuania, has consistently made outsized contributions to both organizations.

Lithuania’s commitment to freedom was evident at the Summit for Democracy that President Biden convened late last year, where Vilnius pledged to expand its efforts to support and provide refuge for pro-democracy activists from Belarus and Russia, to promote international accountability measures for gross human rights violations, to increase support for media freedom and the safety of journalists. How prescient and necessary those commitments proved to be.

In the face of the current crisis, the United States and Lithuania are united in our resolve to stand with Ukraine. We’re surging security assistance to strengthen Ukraine’s capacity to defend itself. We’re increasing humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people. We’re raising the costs on the Kremlin – and all who aid and enable it – for continuing this war of choice. And we’re bolstering our shared defense so that we and our allies are prepared to meet any threat.

The United States has deployed an additional 7,000 forces to Europe. We’re repositioned forces already in Europe to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank. That includes the extension, as of last week, of the U.S. Army’s 366 Armored Battalion, which was deployed to Lithuania in July; the deployment of F-35 strike fighters to the region to augment NATO’s enhanced air policing mission. An addition 400 personnel from the 1st Armored Brigade combat team will be arriving in Lithuania in the days to come.

The United States commitment to Article 5 – an attack on one is an attack on all – that commitment is sacrosanct. And as President Biden repeated to the American people in his State of the Union address just a few days ago, we will defend every inch of NATO territory if it comes under attack. No one should doubt our readiness; no one should doubt our resolve.

Over the past several weeks, I authorized allies to provide U.S.-origin defense equipment to our Ukrainian partners. Lithuania stepped up with Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, M-72 light anti-tank weapons, and other supplies to help the extraordinarily courageous Ukrainian people defend their country from Russian aggression. Vilnius is also sending about $4 million Euros in emergency medical assistance for Ukraine – 30 truckloads packed with aid, urgently needed given the growing carnage that’s being influenced by the Kremlin’s sieges and attacks on civilians.

When the Lithuanian Red Cross issued a call just last week for donations to help people in Ukraine, it filled 50 trucks the very first day. We see blue and yellow flags hanging from homes and businesses across this country. And a Lithuanian NGO has reportedly registered nearly 6,000 households willing to take in Ukrainian refugees. The Ukrainians who eventually arrive in Lithuania will join hundreds of anti-corruption activists, opposition politicians, journalists, human rights defenders who already have found safe haven here after being forced to flee attacks, threats, imprisonment in Russia and Belarus in recent years.

Vilnius is the temporary home of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of Belarus’s pro-democracy movement, with whom I’ve had the privilege of meeting on several occasions, including most recently in Munich during the security conference.

We’re very grateful to Lithuania for hosting in the State Department’s Belarus Affairs unit, led by Ambassador Julie Fisher. That unit is focused on supporting the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people and holding the Lukashenka regime accountable for its widespread human rights violations.

Until last May, Vilnius also provided refuge for Belarusian blogger and dissident Roman Protasevich until a commercial jet that he was traveling on was intercepted by a Belarusian fighter jet and he was arbitrarily detained. We join Lithuania in continuing to call for his immediate release and the release of all people being unjustly detained in Russia and in Belarus, including the growing number arrested for protesting the Kremlin’s ongoing war. Yesterday alone, the Russian Government reportedly detained more than 4,600 people demonstrating against the war in 65 Russian cities and towns.

Vilnius recognized that a threat to the rules-based order anywhere has the potential to weaken it everywhere. This includes the principle that every nation is free to associate with whom it chooses. That’s why we respect and support Lithuania’s decision to expand commercial ties with Taiwan, another leading democracy. Beijing has responded to Vilnius’s decision with economic coercion and political pressure designed to divide the European Union – and punishing Lithuania into reversing course. We support the EU’s decision to launch a legal challenge against China at the WTO. We have to defend the rules that keep trade fair.

Beijing talks a lot about the importance of upholding international order, stability, respecting sovereignty. But from its coercion of Vilnius to its failure thus far to condemn Moscow’s flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, today and in 2014, Beijing’s actions are speaking much louder than its words.

The United States continues to stand by Lithuania and the right of every nation to choose its own path. We’re supporting Lithuania as it reorients its supply chains and deepens its economic resilience. In November we created a $600 million Export-Import Bank credit facility here, and that will help facilitate U.S. exports to Lithuania, but also help Lithuanian businesses in the sectors that have been hardest hit by the PRC’s measures like semiconductors, like biotechnology. Our Undersecretary for Economic Affairs Jose Fernandez was just here – with colleagues from the Export-Import Bank – to support these efforts and deepen our economic cooperation. As Lithuania continues to stand for these principles, it can count on the United States to stand with it. Thank you.

MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Now is the time for questions. Žygintas Abromaitis from Lithuanian National Television. Žygintas Abromaitis.

QUESTION: Žygintas Abromaitis, Lithuanian national broadcaster on behalf of all Lithuanian media. It’s a question for you, Mr. Blinken. President Nausėda warned about World War III if Putin is not stopped, but it looks like the only war could stop him, and not sanctions or political pressure or even deterrence. Putin is now saying that he’ll go till the end and Russia is threatening NATO countries over support of Ukraine. You keep saying that you will defend every inch of NATO territory. So will you send American troops to the Baltic region permanently, air defense systems? Where is the red line after crossing it NATO will enter the war directly, and how likely Russia is ready to start a nuclear war? And furthermore, could you confirm that Poland will send fighter jets in exchange for American F-16s? Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you very much. A few things. First, as I noted, in response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, one of the things we did is exactly what we said we’d do for many, many months, which is, in the event of Russian aggression, we would reinforce NATO’s eastern flank. And that’s exactly what we’ve done, and we’re in the midst of continuing to do that now, including with the deployment of additional forces, including American forces, here to Lithuania – F-35 fighters, various pieces of important equipment, all of which is being deployed here, deployed to the other states in the Baltics.

At the same time, we’re continuously reviewing within NATO our defense posture, including looking at questions of extending the deployment of forces, looking at questions of more permanent deployments. All of that is under regular review, and we’re engaged with NATO Allies in doing just that. Gabrielius and I were just at a meeting of the NATO foreign ministers a few days ago in Brussels, and this is one of the issues, of course, that came up.

Second, we said a few other things for many, many months as we saw – the two of us, our countries – the likelihood of Russian aggression against Ukraine. And even as we tried everything we could to push Russia to a diplomatic path to try to resolve whatever concerns it had that might be – that anyone would consider legitimate through diplomacy and dialogue – even as we were doing that, we said then we would be fully prepared if it chose the path of aggression. We said that we would reinforce NATO’s eastern flank – we are. We said that we would come to the aid of Ukraine by providing it more and more assistance – we are. We said that we impose massive consequences on Russia for its aggression – we are. And I think those consequences, the severity of the economic sanctions and other measures that have been taken, are well beyond what I think many people anticipated and are certainly unprecedented.

And they are having a dramatic impact already. We see the ruble going through the floor. We see Russia’s credit rating coming basically to zero, to “junk status,” as we would call it. We see its stock market shut down. We see an exodus of virtually every leading company from Russia. All of those things are happening; they’re happening in real time. At the same time, other steps that we’ve taken, including export controls on the most important technology that Russia needs to modernize for the future – including its defense and aerospace industries, including its energy sector – that technology is being denied to Russia. That’s going to have a powerful impact over time.

We’re also seeing the effect of the assistance that we have been able to provide to Ukraine and we’re continuing to provide to Ukraine – in Ukraine – when it comes to the incredible courage they’re showing in the effectiveness they’re having in standing against Russian aggression. So all of these things, as we said, are happening. They’re having an impact. Having said that, it’s also true and clear that Russia has a hugely disproportionate force compared to what Ukraine has. It has the ability to continue to grind down the Ukrainian military and, of course, to take horrific actions against the Ukrainian people, including attacking civilians.

We want this to come to a stop as quickly as possible, which is why we will continue to increase pressure on Russia, continue to support Ukraine. But as I said yesterday, even if and as Russia might win a battle in Ukraine, that doesn’t mean it’s winning the war. If and as Russia might take a city in Ukraine, that doesn’t mean that it’s taking the hearts and minds of the Ukrainian people. It can’t; it won’t. And whether it’s a week, whether it’s a month, whether it’s longer, I am utterly convinced that Ukraine will prevail.

Finally, when it comes to NATO, the line is very clear. And I’ll repeat it: If there is any aggression anywhere on NATO territory, on NATO countries, we the United States, all of our allies and partners, will take action to defend every inch of NATO territory. It’s as clear and direct as that.

MODERATOR: Simon Lewis, Reuters. Your question, please.

QUESTION: Thank you. Thanks for doing this. For Secretary Blinken, I wondered if you would be able to comment on reports that the U.S. believes that Russia has begun recruiting Syrians to fight in the war in Ukraine.

And to the foreign minister: Even before this invasion of Ukraine and the current tense security situation, Lithuania was already dealing with the threat from another power, from – of economic and diplomatic pressure from China over your stance towards Taiwan. How can you balance those two threats, and what can the United States provide? What are you asking for the United States to provide that to help you deal with both of those? Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: I’m happy to start. Simon, I’ve seen the reports that you refer to. I can’t confirm them at this time.

FOREIGN MINISTER LANDSBERGIS: Well, I think that – and as Secretary Blinken mentioned – both cases are about defending a similar principle. One power is challenging the rules-based order when it comes to the borders of other countries, when it comes to geopolitics, when it comes to the security architecture of – one might say Europe, but I would say that it’s a global architecture, because it doesn’t matter where the country is – where the country is. Is it in the Indo-Pacific? Is it in Europe? Is it in any other continent? Every country has hopes and wants guarantees that its borders, its sovereignty will not be violated.

The other top power is trying to bend globally agreed rules of trade and is trying to use trade as a political instrument, in some cases even as a weapon, to force countries to change the course – no matter that it’s legal, no matter that it’s a sovereign right of the country to do so. So not by our design, Lithuania becomes a case of defending both principles and becomes a country which in some cases leads by example what it means to defend the global rules-based order, be it geopolitical or economic.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you.


Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Meeting with Spanish State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs Moreno Bau
03/07/2022

Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Meeting with Spanish State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs Moreno Bau
03/07/2022 01:18 PM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met today with Spanish State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs Angeles Moreno Bau in Madrid. They reaffirmed their steadfast support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and condemned President Putin’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified Russian invasion of Ukraine and its devastating humanitarian toll. Deputy Secretary Sherman and State Secretary Moreno Bau discussed the sweeping, coordinated economic sanctions and export controls the United States and EU have imposed and will continue to impose in response, as well as measures to provide defensive military assistance and robust humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people. They also discussed issues of mutual concern in Latin America, Africa, and the Indo-Pacific, including ways to strengthen democracy and expand bilateral cooperation in Central America.


Joint Statement on the Strategic Dialogue between the United States and Austria
03/07/2022
Joint Statement on the Strategic Dialogue between the United States and Austria
03/07/2022 01:48 PM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and the Republic of Austria on the occasion of the U.S.-Austria Strategic Dialogue.

Begin text:

The Governments of the United States and Austria held the U.S.-Austria Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C. on March 3, 2022, which included virtual consultations between Austrian Secretary General for Foreign Affairs Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.

The United States and Austria, also in its capacity as a member state of the European Union, are dedicated to deepening the Transatlantic relationship and strengthening our commitment to our shared values of advancing democracy and human rights and condemning Russia’s unjustified, unprovoked and premeditated war against Ukraine, including through multilateral action at the United Nations. Both parties expressed firm dedication to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We acknowledge the European aspirations of Ukraine, welcome its European choice, and support its political association and economic integration with the EU. The United States and Austria support the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people. We fully support the objective of European integration of the Western Balkan countries.

In the framework of our Strategic Partnership, the United States and Austria emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Austria relationship in addressing Transatlantic issues. The Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C. focused on common interests and shared values, reaffirming the dedicated bilateral relationship between the United States and Austria and our joint commitment to enhance cooperation on a broad range of topics, such as establishing a civil society dialogue and fostering educational and people-to-people exchanges.

Topics discussed during the Strategic Dialogue included global and regional security issues, including Russia’s attack on Ukraine; the Western Balkans; energy security, including climate change; economic prosperity; and strengthening democratic values and institutions through the OSCE in Europe and Eurasia and in our own countries. The United States and Austria highlighted their common concern about ongoing disregard for the Helsinki Final Act by Russia and Belarus and consulted on the importance of the OSCE in reaching diplomatic resolutions to regional conflicts. Concerning the ongoing Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) negotiations, both sides reaffirmed the need to come to a swift conclusion. The United States thanked Austria for hosting the JCPOA talks.

The Strategic Dialogue was hosted by the U.S. Department of State and included interagency and inter-ministerial representatives from both governments. The meeting featured senior U.S. representatives from the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Commerce, and from the Austrian side, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance.

Both sides expressed a strong interest in continuing and deepening the bilateral strategic partnership. The parties plan to hold the next meeting in Vienna in the first half of 2023.

End text.



Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid Before Their Meeting
03/07/2022

Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid Before Their Meeting
03/07/2022 02:14 PM EST

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Yair Lapid, Israeli Foreign Minister

Riga, Latvia

FOREIGN MINISTER LAPID: Okay, I’ll go first. So I came here to meet with a friend and a partner in a moment in which world order is changing. The war that is going on in the Ukraine – in Ukraine and the nuclear talks in Vienna are events that are changing the world as we know it.

And I want to thank the administration to you, my friend, for the leadership you have demonstrated in these days. There is no real alternative to American leadership determined to prevent wars and bloodshed.

Israel is totally committed to do everything possible to stop the war in Ukraine. We have condemned the Russian invasion, and we still do. And Israel is a partner in the global effort to make sure and verify that this war must be stopped.

The way to stop a war is to negotiate. Israel is speaking with both sides, both with Russia and Ukraine, and we are working in full coordination with our greatest ally, the United States, and with our European partners. And we will also discuss the status of the nuclear talks in Vienna. It’s no secret we have our differences on this, but it’s a conversation between allies that have a common goal, which is preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear threshold country, and to stop Iran’s ability to spread terror and instability around the world. Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, thank you, Yair. It’s great to see you anywhere – in Israel, in the United States, anywhere in between – and we’ve met on a few occasions in different places. And very much appreciate all of your engagement in the effort to stop this Russian aggression in Ukraine, a war that has already done tremendous damage to Ukraine, to its people, that continues as we speak with more than a million and a half people having fled the country because of the Russian war of choice, and so many more who are in danger at this moment. People killed, people injured.

So it’s imperative that this war come to an end, and Russia has to end it because it started it with no provocation, unwarranted, and – but also premeditated. So we very much appreciate the efforts that any of our close partners and friends and allies can make to see if there is any opening to end the war, consistent, of course, with the principles that we’ve all established, starting with the Ukrainian Government and the Ukrainian people, who must have their sovereignty, their independence, and their territorial integrity.

So I look forward to hearing your ideas, hearing about some of the engagements that Israel has had, but we appreciate all efforts by friends and allies to look for a diplomatic resolution. That’s clearly – that’s always been preferable, from the start. Unfortunately, Russia chose not to pursue the path of diplomacy. It chose aggression, and now we have to all contend with that.

And I also look forward to speaking to you about, in the time we have, some of the other issues and challenges that we’re facing together. And we’re united and committed to the proposition that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon, and I look forward to bringing you up to date on the latest on where we are on the talks with the Europeans, the Iranians, Russia, and China on the JCPOA.

So it’s great to see you, and thank you.


Joint Statement of the Second U.S.-Bahrain Strategic Dialogue
03/07/2022


Joint Statement of the Second U.S.-Bahrain Strategic Dialogue
03/07/2022 02:28 PM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

The following is the text of a joint statement by the Governments of the United States of America and Bahrain.

Begin text:

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani convened the second U.S.-Bahrain Strategic Dialogue on February 28, aimed at advancing key priorities such as expanding strategic cooperation to support peace and security; deepening professional, educational, and cultural ties; enhancing prosperity by strengthening bilateral economic cooperation; and countering terrorism and transnational threats. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister reflected on 50 years of unwavering and steadfast U.S.-Bahrain relations, and the Secretary congratulated the Foreign Minister on recently concluding a successful year as President of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The United States expressed appreciation to the Kingdom of Bahrain for hosting the headquarters of the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet and, as a Major Non-NATO Ally, for stepping forward to facilitate the relocation of U.S. citizens and other vulnerable individuals from Afghanistan. Both sides reviewed challenges to security from malign actors in the region, and the importance of building international support for Ukrainian sovereignty in the face of Russia’s unjustified attack on that country.

They reviewed the progress made in fulfilling the shared commitment to deterring and confronting threats to the Kingdom of Bahrain and enhancing regional peace and security. The two countries stand shoulder-to-shoulder in countering Iran’s destabilizing influence. They looked forward to making further progress during a bilateral workshop Bahrain will soon host as part of the Proliferation Security Initiative workshop, a global effort that aims to stop trafficking in weapons of mass destruction and related materials. They recognized the urgency of bringing peace to Yemen and securing the free flow of humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people. The two countries discussed how to further expand Bahrain’s ties with Israel since the historic signing of the Abraham Accords.

The two sides engaged in constructive dialogue on how best to advance human rights, including freedom of expression, and Bahrain’s government shared its plan to advance societal and legal reforms. The United States recognized continued progress by the Kingdom of Bahrain on labor reforms and its admirable record as a regional leader in combating human trafficking, which was manifested by a record fourth consecutive year as Tier 1 in the U.S. annual Trafficking in Persons Report. The United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain also decided to further discuss labor issues related to their 2006 Free Trade Agreement.

The two countries developed plans to implement the October 2021 Manama Statement of Cooperation, their first-ever cultural joint statement focused on cultural preservation, through capacity-building programs and institutional partnerships, and they announced new cultural, educational, professional, and sports exchange programs to expand people-to-people ties. The United States committed to sustain its fruitful professional exchanges with the Mohamed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa Academy for Diplomatic Studies, and it plans to implement a Sports Visitor program for outstanding Bahraini athletes with disabilities. The United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain also discussed an International Visitor Leadership Program specially designed for technology entrepreneurs. The two sides also reinforced cultural cooperation by renewing the MOU for the American Corner at the Isa Cultural Center.

The United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain discussed their mutual commitment to tackle the climate crisis under the umbrella of the Paris Agreement and collaborated on pursuing greater progress on climate and clean energy transformation goals, including by promoting accelerated action as called for in the Glasgow Climate Pact and through ambitious nationally determined contributions. Both heralded the February 20 groundbreaking ceremony for the U.S. Trade Zone in the Kingdom of Bahrain as a demonstration of the importance of growing trade and investment ties.

The United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain reviewed recent cooperation in law enforcement and maritime and border security. The United States expressed appreciation for the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to countering global threats by increasing bilateral information sharing to improve passenger and cargo screening and looks forward to implementing the memoranda of cooperation on the use of both traveler and cargo manifest information. The two sides reviewed the success of the State Department’s Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund (CTPF) programming to further enhance Bahraini law enforcement’s capabilities to protect critical infrastructure security and resilience, to conduct advanced investigations, and to secure its borders. The United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain agreed to cooperate on a regional seminar in March for countries in the Middle East and North Africa to foster their efforts to build capacities in investigating and prosecuting crimes associated with money laundering and terrorism finance.

Both nations agreed to future sessions of the Strategic Dialogue to pursue shared priorities and further deepen the historic partnership and friendship between the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

End text.


Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas Before Their Meeting
03/08/2022
Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas Before Their Meeting
03/08/2022 06:23 AM EST

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Tallinn, Estonia

Stenbock House

PRIME MINISTER KALLAS: Okay. So welcome. It is my great, great honor to welcome you to Estonia. I’ve been a great admirer of all of your work. I have quoted you many times over these weeks (inaudible). I think you’ve made very, very important points.

We are here because of the security situation that we need to adapt to, and I really welcome you coming to also visit us and talk to us directly on how we can support Ukraine, but also how we can enhance our defense posture at the eastern flank. So welcome.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Kaja, thank you. And it’s really wonderful (inaudible) but I wish it was under different circumstances. But we have been working so closely together these many months to prepare, if necessary, for the aggression that we saw coming from Russia and Putin. We hoped for the best in avoiding that aggression, but we prepared for the worst. And now we’re – we’ve been acting on it. Acting on it in our support for Ukraine, acting on it in making sure that we exerted maximum pressure on Putin to end the war, prepared for it in terms of making sure that our alliance is strong and prepared to defend every inch of NATO territory if a NATO country is (inaudible).

So we’ve done a lot of work already, but we have a lot more to do to sustain what we’ve already done, and to build on it. And I’m grateful to be here (inaudible).


Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Estonian Foreign Minister Eva-Marie Liimets After Their Meeting
03/08/2022


Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Estonian Foreign Minister Eva-Marie Liimets After Their Meeting
03/08/2022 06:53 AM EST

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Tallinn, Estonia

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

FOREIGN MINISTER LIIMETS: Dear Secretary Blinken, dear Tony, it’s really an honor for me to welcome you today in Tallinn. We just met in Washington, D.C. on the 16th of February, just on the eve of this unjustified war that we see at the moment, war in Ukraine started by Russia, which of course has changed the security dialogue here in Europe. We had a ton of discussion what we should do together to support the Ukraine in these very difficult circumstances. Of course, we must continue to support Ukraine politically, economically, and continue to give the humanitarian aid and also defensive means for Ukraine.

Yesterday morning, we read in the news that more than 1.8 million refugees have left their homes in Ukraine. This is something that we all need to work on. As the security situation is changed in Europe, the power balance has changed as well. We must continue to strengthen the defense and the (inaudible) posture here in NATO, especially in the eastern flank. And we are very thankful for recent NATO decisions. But this is our hope, that by NATO summit in summer we will have permanent solutions for NATO’s permanent defense posture here in the eastern flank so that (inaudible) continue to work hard to strengthen the security situation in Europe and particularly in this eastern part of Europe.

We also discussed how to influence Russia to stop the war, this unjustified war in Ukraine, and stop this invasion.

And so there are many things that we discussed and I am very thankful for these discussions. Also it was just this year we celebrate 100 years of diplomatic relations between Estonia and the United States. It is, of course, unfortunate that we have to celebrate this anniversary in these very unfortunate circumstances, but I think that we just agreed that we have very strong bilateral ties, and there are many areas also where we can continue to strengthen our cooperation. And we on Estonia’s side really appreciate this close cooperation with very important, key ally for us. Thank you for coming to Estonia today.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, thank you, Eva-Marie, so much. It’s very good to be here in Estonia. As you said, we were together just a few weeks ago in Washington on the eve of this terrible aggression by Russia against Ukraine. I think we both recognize that this was more than possible; it was probable. We, of course, were hoping for the best, which was not to have a war of aggression by Russia, but prepared for the worst.

And what’s been so important is that over many months working closely together with Estonia, working with NATO Allies, working with European partners, working with other countries around the world, we were prepared. And prepared to make sure that we were doing everything possible to support Ukraine, prepared to make sure that we would do everything necessary to strengthen NATO and its eastern flank, prepared to carry forward our commitment to impose massive consequences on Russia if it committed aggression against Ukraine. And we’ve done all these things.

Now, as we were discussing today, it’s very important to sustain all of those efforts, but not only to sustain them but to build up. And that’s what we’re working on together, that’s what we’re working on with NATO Allies and partners, that’s what we’re working on with the European Union and countries around the world.

The fact that it’s a hundred years of partnership, through many ups and downs, but always that consistent partnership between our countries, I think that is very meaningful, because we’re reminded today especially of how important it is that we have that partnership, that we have the alliance that joins us, and that we have the extraordinary coordination and cooperation that we’ve experienced over the last month’s especially, and I think we’re both determined to see that continue.

So it’s wonderful to be here. I wish it was under a different circumstance, but the circumstances really required it.

Finally, I just want to reiterate one thing, because it’s so important. President Biden is absolutely committed to our NATO Alliance, committed to Article 5, the proposition that an attack on one is an attack on all, and he’s made very clear repeatedly, including to the American people during his recent State of the Union address, that we will defend every square inch of NATO territory if it comes under attack, if it’s on the receiving end of aggression. And it’s important that I reiterate that message from the President here in Estonia. Thank you.

FOREIGN MINISTER LIIMETS: Thank you.


Joint Communiqué on the Morocco-U.S. Strategic Dialogue on Regional Political Issues
03/08/2022
Joint Communiqué on the Morocco-U.S. Strategic Dialogue on Regional Political Issues
03/08/2022 11:03 AM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

The following is the text of a joint statement by the Governments of Morocco and the United States of America.

Begin text:

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, M. Nasser Bourita, and the Deputy Secretary of State of the United States of America, Ms. Wendy Sherman, held bilateral political consultations in Rabat today and co-chaired a session of the Morocco-U.S. Strategic Dialogue on Regional Political Issues.

Foreign Minister Bourita and Deputy Secretary Sherman welcomed the celebration of International Women’s Day as a milestone in promoting and advancing women’s rights. They underscored the need to advance efforts aiming at strengthening women’s rights and achieving equality.

The meeting was an opportunity to reiterate the commitment to the long-standing relations between Morocco and the United States that date to the Treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1787. They emphasized that the strategic bilateral partnership between Morocco and the United States is rooted in shared interests in regional peace, security, and prosperity. They also discussed areas for future U.S.-Moroccan cooperation.

Foreign Minister Bourita and Deputy Secretary Sherman highlighted King Mohammed VI’s leadership in advancing a far-reaching reform agenda.

They discussed the importance of promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms and building on the productive Morocco-U.S. dialogue on human rights held in September 2021, which serves as the main platform to discuss all human rights related issues.

The Minister and the Deputy Secretary expressed their intent to continue cooperation on issues of common interest such as regional peace and prosperity, and the development of Africa and regional security. Deputy Secretary Sherman emphasized the crucial role played by the Kingdom of Morocco in maintaining regional security and stability as well as its contribution to peace and prosperity in the Middle East.

The Foreign Minister and Deputy Secretary recalled the Joint Declaration of December 22, 2020, signed by Morocco, United States, and Israel. The Deputy Secretary welcomed the continued deepening of relations between Morocco and Israel. They discussed ways and means to boost cooperation between the three countries.

The Foreign Minister and the Deputy Secretary expressed strong support for United Nations Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General Staffan de Mistura in leading the political process for Western Sahara, under the auspices of the United Nations. The Deputy Secretary noted that the United States continues to view Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as serious, credible, and realistic, and one potential approach to meet the aspirations of the people of the region.

The Minister and the Deputy Secretary expressed their intent to continue strong cooperation to defeat terrorist groups, including AQIM and ISIS. The Deputy Secretary thanked Morocco, a stable security-exporting partner, for its leadership of the Global Counterterrorism Forum and for its sustaining role in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, including by co-chairing the Africa Focus Group of the Coalition and hosting the upcoming Ministerial Meeting of the Coalition in May. The Deputy Secretary expressed appreciation for Morocco’s continued support to the African Lion multilateral military exercises.

Foreign Minister Bourita and Deputy Secretary Sherman also discussed a range of regional issues, including the Sahel, Libya, and Ukraine. In this regard, the Minister and Deputy Secretary reaffirmed the importance of respecting the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and national unity of all the Member States of the United Nations.

Concerning Libya, the Deputy Secretary welcomed the positive role and important contribution of Morocco to support the UN’s efforts on the political process and hosting the intra-Libyan dialogue. The Foreign Minister and Deputy Secretary reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and national unity of Libya and the priority for organizing national elections in the near term.

End text.


Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Meeting with Foreign Minister Bourita of Morocco
03/08/2022

Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Meeting with Foreign Minister Bourita of Morocco
03/08/2022 11:14 AM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met today with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat. Deputy Secretary Sherman and Foreign Minister Bourita discussed ways to further enhance the long-standing bilateral relationship between the United States and Morocco, including shared interests in regional peace, security and prosperity. The Deputy Secretary and Foreign Minister also discussed international developments, including Putin’s premeditated, unprovoked and unjustified war on Ukraine. The Deputy Secretary and the Foreign Minister expressed strong support for the United Nations Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General Staffan de Mistura, who is seeking to reinvigorate the UN-led political process for Western Sahara. The Deputy Secretary noted that we continue to view Morocco’s autonomy plan as serious, credible, and realistic, and a potential approach to satisfy the aspirations of the people of Western Sahara. The Deputy Secretary and Foreign Minister also discussed the importance of protecting human rights, including freedom of expression, building on the productive September 2021 U.S.-Morocco dialogue on human rights.

Secretary Blinken’s Call with German Foreign Minister Baerbock
03/08/2022


Secretary Blinken’s Call with German Foreign Minister Baerbock
03/08/2022 12:17 PM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. The Secretary reaffirmed the necessity for continued U.S.-German cooperation in the face of Putin’s unprovoked war against Ukraine. He underscored the United States’ resolute support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself against continuing Russian aggression. The Secretary highlighted our commitment, alongside other partners, to continue to hold Russia accountable for its unlawful war of choice.


Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas At a Joint Press Availability
03/08/2022


Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas At a Joint Press Availability
03/08/2022 12:15 PM EST

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Tallinn, Estonia

Stenbock House

MODERATOR: Dear guests, distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the press, we are very happy to welcome the Secretary of State of the United States of America here in Tallinn, in Estonia, in Stenbock House. The Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas, and the Secretary of State of the United States of America Antony Blinken, will deliver statements and take two questions. The press conference is held in English with simultaneous translation into Estonian.

First, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, please.

PRIME MINISTER KALLAS: Thank you. Dear Secretary Blinken, members of the press, it is my great pleasure to welcome you here in Tallinn. I’ve been closely following your work and I admire it greatly. I wish it could be under more pleasant circumstances, though.

Our discussion today focused on the sharply deteriorated security situation in Europe, but also the need to adopt a new reality, raising the cost of aggression to Russia and supporting Ukraine. Putin’s war against the – against Ukraine is an act of military aggression against an independent and sovereign state that wants to fulfill its European dream.

We are standing here in the state elders room. So the pictures you see around this room are of our state elders, the politicians that were running the country before the Soviet occupation. It reminds us of how valuable independence and freedom is, and it also reminds us that we have a very aggressive neighbor that we have suffered under.

The (inaudible) war tactic is to terrorize civilians and put them to the front line of this war. This is brutal and heartbreaking. This tragedy demands first our continued and united support to Ukraine – political, humanitarian, economic, but also military. Second, our focus must be on full isolation of Russia from the free world. And third, we need to adapt to the new reality and also make changes in our own defense.

Ukraine fights bravely for its homeland. What it needs urgently now is our military help. And here the American commitment and help have been and are – continues to be crucial. Estonia, together with the United States, was one of the first to give military support, even before the actual military attack happened on 24th of February.

We should stop the military machine of the aggressor. The democratic world has stepped up against the war with speed, strength, and determination. Our unity in action will help to tame the aggressor, but we need to be prepared for the worst, that the worst is still to come. Hence Putin’s violence must be in correlation with the further sanctions and also isolation decisions.

First, we need to finalize and fully disclose SWIFT for Russia and Belarus. Second, we have to restrict also cryptocurrencies. This is equally important to close the loopholes. We have also closed our air space, but we need to take a step forward and also close the sea ports for Russian vessels. And we will keep finding new tools in our toolbox until Putin’s war machine has been paralyzed.

We are in this for the long haul. We see already tremendous policy shifts vis-à-vis Russia across the European Union. What we need next is also to have a strategic patience to keep these decisions in place.

Russia expects us to make a step back soon. As Dmitry Medvedev explained to Putin in recent public meeting of the Russian security council, and I quote: “Sooner or later, they will get tired of their own initiative. They will come to ask us about returning to discussions and negotiations regarding all the matters of strategic security,” end of quote.

So we will prove them wrong. They will come to test us, and yes, we will have to resist.

The new security situation also demands rapid changes to European, including Estonian, defense. Estonia has long spent over 2 percent of our GDP of our defense, and we continue to call others to do the same. In January, my government made a decision to raise it even more. This means that in 2023 our increased defense budget will be 2.44 percent of our GDP.

NATO needs to adapt quickly as well. Decisions we have to make in the coming weeks and months need to include an upgrade strategy for defense in our region. This means permanently strengthening our defense in air, on land, and at sea.

I would like to the thank the U.S. for your presence and for your quick decisions that led to increased footprint in the Baltic countries. We have to keep on working together for the long-term decisions. That is why I also ask today to establish a permanent and meaningful NATO’s forward defense in the Baltic region.

In conclusion, I would like to thank you, Secretary Blinken, and the U.S. administration for your heavy work, including intense consultations that you have had with us and our other allies in building the unity and – within NATO. Our unity and scale of our joint decisions prove the strength of our democracies. Thank you.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, please.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good afternoon, everyone. And Prime Minister, thank you so much – not just for the warm welcome today, but for the very good conversation. I deeply appreciate your insights and admire your leadership. So thank you for today. And it was very good as well to be with my friend the foreign minister, and I want to send best wishes, of course, to the president as well.

It’s great to be in Tallinn as Secretary of State for the first time. It’s meaningful to be here in particular on this hundredth anniversary year of our diplomatic relations. But as the prime minister said, I also wish it were under different circumstances.

Together, over many months, as we saw the mounting likelihood of Russian aggression against Ukraine, we continued to hope for the best but we prepared for the worst. And we have acted on all of those preparations, and I’ll come to that in a minute.

But over the past several days, at what is a critical moment for Ukraine, for Europe, and for the world, I’ve been engaged with allies and partners across the continent – in Brussels, with NATO, the European Union, G7 meetings; in Poland, where I visited a refugee welcome center and stood with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Ukrainian soil; in Moldova, a country seeking further integration into Europe; and finally, the three Baltic nations, Lithuania, Latvia, and today Estonia.

At every stop, I’ve emphasized the core values that bring our countries together – democracy, rule of law, a respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the international rules-based order that helps maintain peace and security everywhere.

And as I said yesterday in Lithuania and in Latvia, the people of Estonia – who lived through decades of Soviet occupation – understand in a profound way how wrong Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine is, how the world has to defend Ukraine’s right to exist as a sovereign, democratic country free to choose its own future.

The numbers of killed and wounded civilians in Ukraine continue to rise. As of today, more than 1.7 million people have been forced to flee their own country. More than 800,000 people have become internally displaced within Ukraine. Many more people are trying to flee but can’t get out of besieged areas. There have continued to be reports of shelling by Russian forces on agreed-upon humanitarian corridors.

We continue to call on Russia to allow for humanitarian access on the ground – both for supplies for people who have been cut off from food, water, medicine, and for humanitarian organizations like the International Committee of the Red Cross that can negotiate true humanitarian corridors so that civilians can safely leave the country.

Estonia and the United States – together with our allies and partners – will continue to stand with Ukraine. We’re increasing our security assistance to strengthen Ukraine’s capacity to defend itself. Working with our humanitarian partners on the ground, we’re providing more aid to people who are still inside Ukraine as well as those who left. And we’re raising the costs on the Kremlin and all who aid and abet its efforts in continuing this war of choice.

Our administration is also working with Congress to see to it that we do even more. President Biden’s request for an additional $10 billion would enable us to surge security, humanitarian, and economic assistance where it’s needed.

For its part, Estonia has provided many kinds of assistance to Ukraine, including Javelin anti-tank missiles and Howitzers; food and medical aid to the front lines; a pledge to welcome more than 10,000 refugees if they choose to come here into Estonian homes, into Estonian communities.

And as everywhere we’ve been in the Baltics over this last day, we continue to see an outpouring of support for the Ukrainian people. We continue to see the yellow and blue on homes and buildings. And it’s a powerful message of solidarity.

And together, as the prime minister said, Estonia and the United States are bolstering our shared security and shared defense. As President Biden said, we will defend every inch of NATO territory with the full force of our collective power. Our commitment to Article 5 is ironclad. An attack on one would be an attack on all. We and our NATO Allies are prepared to meet any threat coming our direction, from wherever it comes.

NATO activated our defense plans for the eastern flank for the first time in its history in response to Russia’s aggression, giving the Supreme Allied Commander Europe the authority to deploy NATO response forces as needed. Many Allies have increased their troop presence and contributed additional equipment and capabilities.

President Biden ordered the deployment of an additional 7,000 U.S. troops to Europe and moved forces already in Europe to NATO’s eastern flank. We deployed F-35 strike fighter jets to the region; we’re augmenting NATO’s enhanced air policing mission. And we’re working with Estonia and its Baltic neighbors on cybersecurity and energy security, which are also critically important to our shared security.

Over the past 30 years, the Baltics have formed a democratic wall that’s now standing against the tide of authoritarianism that Moscow is seeking to push further into Europe. Estonia has become one of the most advanced digital societies in the world, with a strong free press, a business culture fueled by innovation, citizens empowered to do everything from voting to getting a passport online.

What a comparison to Moscow, which viciously targets journalists and floods the internet and airwaves with disinformation, both around the world and at home.

Many people in Russia have no idea what their government is doing right now in Ukraine. They think they’re liberating Ukraine, not destroying it. Moscow has banned Facebook and Twitter to make it easier to sell its lies.

One of the weak points of autocracies is that they rely on total control of information. So we will continue in our efforts to counter Russian disinformation and expose the true costs of this war to the Russian people – both the profound costs to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, and the costs to Russian people themselves, which are mounting every single day.

The ruble has cratered. Mastercard, Visa, Apple Pay have shut down. Dozens of leading companies – from Nike to Coca-Cola, FedEx to Spotify, Netflix to Toyota – have exited the country. President Putin is making Russia a pariah – destroying in the space of a week 30 years of international openness and opportunity.

The Russian people are already feeling the effects of this in their everyday lives, and that will increase. We hope they can learn the truth about why this happening. This is not the Russian people’s war, and it’s not a war of liberation or whatever else they’ve been told. This is President Putin’s war to subjugate a sovereign, democratic country. And until he ends it, the world will hold him accountable.

At this critical moment for democracy in Eastern Europe, it is all the more important that democracies like Estonia – all of the Baltics – continue to represent the better path, and rise to the challenge of the moment. The United States will stand with you as you do.

Today, I should note, is International Women’s Day, and I’m very pleased to be in Estonia for it – because as is very clearly being demonstrated right now, Estonia has remarkably strong leaders who are women, including its prime minister, including its foreign minister, and because of Estonia’s commitment to closing the gender pay gap and advancing gender equality among other key metrics, it’s leading the world in all of these areas.

Today, we also think of the strength of the women of Ukraine. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian women have taken their children to safety in other countries, often leaving husbands behind – as well as many women who have joined the fight to protect the homeland themselves. The women of Ukraine embody the fortitude, the resilience, and courage of women everywhere.

Thank you.

MODERATOR: Thank you. We are now at your disposal for questions. We will have two questions. Please state to whom the question is addressed to, and please use microphone.

The first question by Tarmo Maiberg, from Estonian national broadcaster, please.

QUESTION: Hi. First a question to Mr. Blinken – actually, a comment. Russia and the United States should return to the principle of peaceful coexistence, like during the Cold War. Just a quote from Russian foreign minister. What do you think about that? And the second part is: In 2005, at the UN World Summit, was adopted unanimously the responsibility to protect. It is an international norm that seeks to ensure that the international community never again fails to halt mass atrocity crimes. Is United States with its allies failing to fulfill that promise when we are witnessing mass bombings in Ukraine’s cities against civilians?

And also to Prime Minister: What about Estonia’s support embargo on Russia’s oil and gas?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. “Peaceful coexistence” has two words; the first is “peaceful.” And Russia’s doing everything in its power to make a mockery of that word through its aggression on Ukraine. So if Russia wants to engage in peaceful coexistence, of course in principle we welcome it. It needs to start by actually making good on the word “peaceful” and ending the war, the aggression that it is committing in Ukraine. It’s pretty straightforward.

Second, with regard to the responsibility to protect, we have been working together for many months, and we continue to do that this very minute, to do just that – to do everything that we can to make sure that Ukrainians have the means to defend themselves against Russia’s war of choice on Ukraine, as well as to help those in Ukraine who are suffering with humanitarian assistance, those outside of Ukraine who need support with the support they need.

We’ve said for many, many months that if diplomacy did not succeed in diverting Russia from its course of aggression and Russia pursued that aggression, we would respond, we would be prepared to do so, and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing, both with regard to helping Ukrainians and helping Ukraine defend itself, also imposing severe costs, some of which I alluded to earlier, on Russia, all with the purpose of ending Russia’s aggression, ending the war, and indeed protecting the Ukrainian people.

I think we brought tremendous resources to bear on this effort. We brought the world together in this effort; 141 countries stood up at the United Nations condemning the aggression and supporting Ukraine. And in the days and weeks ahead, working closely with our allies, we will step up the support that we’re providing, the efforts to help Ukraine defend itself, and to support its people.

PRIME MINISTER KALLAS: Thank you. We have put in place very strong sanctions, and we are working on the fourth package in the European Union to come forward with additional sanctions. We are working together with our European allies, which means that everybody has to agree to those sanctions. And right now we are working on making the SWIFT apply to everything. We also are working on cryptocurrencies. There are several elements as well.

What comes to Russian oil and gas embargo, then of course different European countries are in not equal amount dependent on Russian gas and oil, which means that if everybody has to be on board, then we also have to find alternatives into those countries. And it seems to me that Putin is also doing – pushing all the countries towards a green transition, but it doesn’t happen overnight. And therefore we will have discussions over this gas and oil embargo, but we also understand that we have to have alternative energy sources. So everybody has to be on board, otherwise we – societies of different countries will be hurt more than necessary.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Second question by Rich Edson from Fox News.

QUESTION: Thank you. Madam Prime Minister, Mr. Secretary – sorry, I’m a little bit taller. The – Prime Minister, you mentioned you would discuss how you can enhance your permanent defense posture. What specifically do Estonia and the eastern flank need? Is it more troops, tanks, equipment, air defenses? And on what scale?

And Mr. Secretary, with the consideration of banning oil from Russia, are you working with companies? Shell just a short while ago announced it’s phasing out Russia oil and gas purchases. Also, where is the world going to find and replace that energy? Can Iran and Venezuela be part of the solution? Should we expect energy prices to rise further as a result of any Russia oil ban? And separately, are you concerned Russia may obstruct progress in the Iran negotiations? Thank you.

PRIME MINISTER KALLAS: Thank you. The short answer to your question is: Everything. But a longer answer is that we need different capabilities. We need also troops, we also need technology, and we also need everything to work together. What is the positive side of NATO is that we are in this collective defense alliance, which means that different Allies also support our collective defense by different means. Some of them send troops, some technology. But it also has to all work together.

So currently we are receiving different decisions from different Allies, and we are also looking forward to complete decisions by U.S. so that it will all play out. But considering that we are a border country to a very aggressive Russia, we need to enhance our defense posture. So far it has been deterrence posture, but we have to have a defense posture. What means – what it means is that we have the troops, the capabilities, but also the practice of all of them working together. Which means that we also need more military exercises on the ground, that we see that it all works. Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Rich, thank you. (Inaudible) to addressing your questions.

First, with regard to a potential oil embargo, an embargo on the importation of Russian oil, this is something, as I mentioned, that we had been discussing within the administration. The President discussed this as well yesterday when he had a call with the French president, British prime minister, and the German chancellor, and something we’re very much actively looking at.

As a general proposition, we are working to maintain a steady global supply of energy, and looking at various places where we can make sure that that supply continues. And we’re doing that, among other things, through our diplomatic efforts. And as this crisis continues, again, we want to make sure that energy is widely available. At the same time, as the prime minister said, there is I think a significant not only opportunity but imperative in this moment to finally move off of – referring to countries in Europe – dependence on Russian energy, because Russia uses it as a weapon. And we’re seeing countries respond to that. We’re working closely with them as they engage in those efforts. It will take, as the prime minister said, some time to do that, but if you’ll forgive the bad pun, there is real energy in this effort.

And so all of these things come together – ensuring that there is a steady global supply of energy in the moment, ensuring that we’re working together on finding ways to diversify supply, and also doing this in a way that’s consistent with the agenda that we share dealing with climate change. I think this only underscores the imperative of moving ahead as quickly as possible with renewable energy supply and sources. So we’re working on bringing all of these things together, and with our diplomacy as well, making sure that energy supplies remain abundant coming from different places around the world.

With regard to the JCPOA, the Iran nuclear deal, we continue to work to see if we can come back to mutual compliance with Iran on the deal. Russia continues to be engaged in those efforts, and it has its own interests in ensuring that Iran is not able to acquire a nuclear weapon. Thank you.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Unfortunately this is the whole time we had. Thank you, everyone.

Statement on Russia’s War on Ukraine & International Sport
03/08/2022

Statement on Russia’s War on Ukraine & International Sport
03/08/2022 01:17 PM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

The text of the following statement was agreed upon by the ministers of sport or their equivalent from the countries and individuals listed at the bottom of the statement.

Begin text:

Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable war of choice against Ukraine, enabled by the Belarusian government, is abhorrent and a flagrant breach of its international obligations. Respect for human rights and peaceful relations between nations form the foundation of international sport.

We, as a collective of like-minded nations, affirm our support for international sport organizations’ position that:
Russia and Belarus should not be permitted to host, bid for, or be awarded any international sporting events.
Individual athletes selected by Russia and Belarus, administrators and teams representing the Russian or Belarusian state should be banned from competing in other countries, including those representing bodies, cities or brands that are effectively representing Russia or Belarus, such as major football clubs.
Wherever possible, appropriate actions should be taken to limit sponsorship and other financial support from entities with links to the Russian or Belarusian states.

We call on all international sport federations to endorse these principles, and applaud all those that have done so already. We also welcome the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to prevent Russia’s and Belarus’ athletes from competing in the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing. These restrictions should be in place until cooperation under the fundamental principles of international law has become possible again.

We encourage all international sport organizations and all relevant legal bodies not to sanction athletes, coaches or officials who decide to unilaterally terminate their contracts with Russian, Belarusian or Ukrainian clubs, as well as not to pursue or to sanction sport organizers which decide to ban athletes or teams selected by Russia or Belarus.

Furthermore, we encourage the international sport community to continue to show its solidarity with the people of Ukraine, including through supporting the continuation of Ukrainian sport where possible.

Signed by the following ministers or their equivalents:
Australia Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, Minister for Sport
Austria Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler, Minister of Arts and Culture, Civil Service and Sport
Belgium Valérie Glatigny, Minister for Higher Education, Adult Education, Scientific Research, University Hospitals, Youth Welfare, Houses of Justice, Youth, Sport and the Promotion of Brussels of the French-Speaking Community.


This signature commits the French-speaking Community, the Flemish Community and the German-speaking Community of Belgium.
Canada The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport
Croatia Dr Nikolina Brnjac, Minister of Tourism and Sport
Cyprus Prodromos Prodromou, Minister of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth Office
Czech Republic Petr Gazdík, Minister for Education, Youth and Sports
Denmark Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen, Minister for Culture
Estonia Tiit Terik, Minister of Culture
Finland Antti Kurvinen, Minister of Science and Culture
France Roxana Maracineanu, Minister of Sport
Germany Mahmut Özdemir MP, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community
Greece Lefteris Avgenakis, Deputy Minister for Sports
Hungary Dr Tünde Szabó, Minister of State for Sport
Iceland Ásmundur Einar Daðason, Minister of Education and Children
Ireland Jack Chambers TD, Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht
Italy Valentina Vezzali, Secretary of State for Sport
Japan H.E. SUEMATSU Shinsuke, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Republic of Korea HWANG Hee, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Latvia Anita Muižniece, Minister for Education and Science
Liechtenstein H.E. Dominique Hasler, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Sport
Lithuania Dr Jurgita Šiugždinienė, Minister of Education, Science and Sport
Luxembourg Georges Engel, Minister of Sport
Malta Dr Clifton Grima, Minister for Education and Sport
Netherlands Conny Helder, Minister for Long-term Care and Sport
New Zealand Hon Grant Robertson, Minister for Sport and Recreation
Norway Anette Trettebergstuen, Minister of Culture and Equality
Poland Kamil Bortniczuk, Minister of Sport and Tourism
Portugal Tiago Brandão Rodrigues, Minister of Education (responsible for Youth and Sport)
Romania Carol-Eduard Novak, Minister of Sports
Slovakia Ivan Husar, State Secretary for Sport
Slovenia Dr Simona Kustec, Minister of Education, Science and Sport
Spain Miquel Octavi Iceta i Llorens, Minister of Culture and Sport
Sweden Anders Ygeman, Minister for Integration and Migration
Switzerland Viola Amherd, Head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport
United Kingdom The Rt Hon Nadine Dorries MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
United States of America Jennifer Hall Godfrey, Senior Official for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs


Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with French President Macron
03/08/2022

Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with French President Macron
03/08/2022 02:29 PM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. Secretary Blinken and President Macron agreed on the need for continued strong U.S.-France cooperation in the face of the Russian government’s unprovoked war against Ukraine. They discussed ongoing efforts to provide assistance for the government and people of Ukraine and reaffirmed their commitment to impose significant costs on President Putin and his associates for as long as they continue their war of choice in Ukraine. The Secretary and President compared notes on ongoing diplomacy to diminish the violence and bring the Kremlin’s war to a halt. They also agreed to continue close coordination on Iran and efforts to reach a deal in Vienna ensuring mutual return to full compliance with the JCPOA.


Secretary Blinken’s Call with the United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed
03/08/2022


Secretary Blinken’s Call with the United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed
03/08/2022 03:22 PM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Secretary and Foreign Minister discussed cooperation to advance peace and security at the UN Security Council. Secretary Blinken reiterated the value of close coordination on Ukraine and the importance of building a strong international response to support Ukrainian democracy and sovereignty following Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked and unlawful invasion. The Secretary also underscored the U.S. commitment to help the UAE bolster its strong defensive capabilities against threats from Yemen and elsewhere in the region.


Department of State Partners with GoFundMe.org
03/09/2022


Department of State Partners with GoFundMe.org
03/09/2022 09:18 AM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

The Department of State’s Office of Global Partnerships has established a public-private partnership with GoFundMe.org to direct funds to organizations that are helping to address the humanitarian needs of those impacted by the Kremlin’s aggression against Ukraine.  This partnership with GoFundMe.org is designed to mobilize private-sector donations and individual giving to support relief organizations aiding those impacted by Russia’s actions.

Businesses, philanthropies, and individuals interested in supporting the humanitarian response can visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/ukraine-humanitarian-fund to learn more.  Please note: while recipient organizations identified have undergone due diligence, the Department must disclaim any and all responsibility or liability for donor and GoFundMe transactions relating to this fundraiser.

To help promote the campaign on social media, donors are encouraged to include the campaign’s website and the hashtag #UnitedWithUkraine in social media posts.

To learn more about how to partner with the U.S. Department of State, interested parties can contact the Office of Global Partnerships at partnerships@state.gov. For further updates, visit https://www.state.gov/united-with-ukraine/ or follow @GPatState on Twitter.


Ensuring the Responsible Development of Digital Assets
03/09/2022

Ensuring the Responsible Development of Digital Assets
03/09/2022 12:47 PM EST

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

The United States is committed to the responsible development and design of digital assets and the technology that underpins new forms of payments and capital flows in the international financial system. Today’s Executive Order (E.O.) on “Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets” demonstrates our determination to lead and shape financial innovation to promote prosperity, prevent abuse, and advance democratic values.

Financial innovation can produce great benefit for society, but it needs the right guardrails to prevent harm. During the Russian government’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified war on Ukraine, we have seen it employed for ill and for good. For instance, there have been numerous ransomware incidents using cryptocurrencies that have originated in Russia, as have other malicious cyber activities. On the other hand, people from around the world have responded to Ukraine’s request for assistance by making direct donations through cryptocurrencies. Today’s E.O. is designed to block the former and promote the latter.

The Department of State will play an important role in the implementation of this E.O. Our embassies and missions around the world are ready to partner with the private sector and international bodies to support the development and use of digital asset technology in ways aligned with U.S. values. This will include fostering international cooperation and U.S. competitiveness; reducing the risks that digital assets could pose to consumers, investors, businesses, and the environment; supporting the development and adoption of standards; protecting the integrity and stability of the financial system; preserving interoperability; combating corruption; preventing crime and illicit finance; protecting against arbitrary or unlawful surveillance; defending privacy and the exercise of human rights; and supporting financial inclusion.

Additional information regarding this Executive Order can be found here .


Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink’s Travel to Tokyo
03/09/2022

Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink’s Travel to Tokyo
03/09/2022 01:12 PM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink will travel to Tokyo, Japan from March 10-12. During his visit, Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Dr. Ely S. Ratner will co-chair the 2+2 Security Sub-Committee of the Security Consultative Committee with Director-General Ichikawa Keiichi, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Director-General Masuda Kazuo, Ministry of Defense. The senior leaders will discuss efforts to continue to modernize the U.S.-Japan Alliance and strengthen joint capabilities. Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink will reaffirm the United States’ commitment to the Alliance as the cornerstone of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific.

The Assistant Secretary will confer with officials on further joint efforts to support Ukraine and its people and to hold Russia accountable for its brutal war against Ukraine. Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink and counterparts will underscore the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and discuss stepping up efforts to address the crisis in Burma. Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink will also emphasize the importance of bilateral and trilateral cooperation among the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea to promote peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.


Secretary Antony J. Blinken And UK Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss At a Joint Press Availability
03/09/2022
Secretary Antony J. Blinken And UK Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss At a Joint Press Availability
03/09/2022 02:22 PM EST

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

Benjamin Franklin Room

SECRETARY BLINKEN: It’s very good to see everyone here today, and especially good to see my colleague and friend, Foreign Secretary Truss.

Liz and I have been working around the world together almost non-stop on the most immediate matter at hand, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, but on a multiplicity of other things, because our countries are joined in having shared interests across virtually every significant issue before the world now.

We were just in Brussels last week with ministers from our fellow NATO Allies, the G7, the European Union, focused particularly on continuing what has been extraordinarily close coordination and cooperation in response to Moscow’s unprovoked, unjustified, and increasingly brutal war in Ukraine.

We and our teams are in almost constant contact as we calibrate a united response, not just between our two nations, which have a long history of working hand in hand through the special relationship, but with allies and partners across Europe and, indeed, beyond. At least in my experience of doing this for nearly 30 years, I cannot remember a time where we’ve seen such unity in the transatlantic relationship, both in policy and in principle. We are united in strengthening our security assistance to Ukraine for its heroic defenders. We are united in increasing our assistance to the people of Ukraine, who are suffering grievously due to the growing humanitarian catastrophe inflicted upon them by Moscow’s invasion. And we’re united in our efforts to raise the costs on the Kremlin for waging this ongoing war of choice, which has already displaced more than 2 million Ukrainians.

Earlier this week Prime Minister Johnson announced an additional 175 million pounds in aid to Ukraine, bringing the UK’s total support during the crisis, I believe, to approximately 400 million pounds. This includes direct assistance for the Ukrainian Government to pay the salaries of Ukraine’s public sector employees, who are keeping critical services running where they haven’t been bombed by the Russians.

The UK was one of the first European countries to send defensive lethal security assistance to Ukraine. And the government has imposed severe financial sanctions on President Putin, his inner circle, Russian oligarchs, and others who enable and fuel this aggression.

Just days ago, the House of Commons passed a new economic crime bill aimed at making it easier to sanction groups of corrupt individuals, and harder for those trying to hide their money in the UK.

Yesterday, in the latest of many steps that we’ve taken together to hold the Kremlin accountable, President Biden banned all imports of Russian oil, liquefied natural gas, and coal; Prime Minister Johnson committed to ban all imports of Russian oil by the end of 2022.

We’re also united in calling on the Kremlin to immediately allow Ukrainian civilians to safely depart the cities and towns of Ukraine that are besieged by Russian forces. Every country has a responsibility to join us in pressing Moscow to do this. This is not the time to equivocate by calling on both sides to allow civilians in Ukraine’s cities to leave safely. Doing so obfuscates the basic facts around why these corridors are necessary, and who is blocking them.

Russia invaded Ukraine without justification. Russian forces now encircle multiple Ukrainian cities, after having destroyed much of their critical infrastructure, leaving people without water, without electricity, without access to food and medicine. And Russia’s relentless bombardment, including of civilians trying to flee, prevents people from safely escaping the hellish conditions that they have created.

The Kremlin’s proposals to create humanitarian corridors leading into Russia and Belarus are absurd. It’s offensive to suggest the Ukrainian people should seek refuge from the very government that has demonstrated such disregard for their lives. The civilians who were able to escape yesterday through one of those corridors from Sumy to Poltava – another city in Ukraine – shows that this is possible, but it must be allowed to happen on a much broader scale.

It is not only in Europe where the United States and the UK are working together to address threats to international peace and security. We also share a grave concern about Iran’s nuclear advances. Together we discussed our work to achieve a mutual return to compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the so-called Iran nuclear agreement. Either way, we are committed to ensuring that Iran can never acquire a nuclear weapon.

On Northern Ireland, President Biden has been steadfast in his support for the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, which he views as a historic achievement that must be protected to ensure the peace, stability, and prosperity of people in Northern Ireland. The United States continues to support both sides’ efforts to engage in productive dialogue to resolve differences over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Before handing it over to Liz, let me just make one final point. It’s not just the British Government that’s stepping up to help Ukraine. We’re also seeing incredible solidarity and compassion from the British people, people like Khaled El Mayet in Cheltenham, who is leading a local campaign to buy second-hand ambulances and drive them, packed with supplies, to humanitarian responders at Ukraine’s border; people like Yorkshire resident Magdalena Timmin, who, on the second night of Russia’s invasion, sent a message to a Facebook group called “Polish Mums of Leeds,” appealing for donations to help people in Ukraine. Within days, she’d received enough to fill three 18-wheelers.

I believe one reason we’re seeing such an outpouring of support from the British people is because they’ve been through something similar. The harrowing blitz during World War II inflicted colossal suffering on the country’s people, killing more than 60,000 British civilians, wounding 86,000 more. It’s impossible to see the images of people seeking refuge in Kyiv’s metro in 2022 and not think of those who sheltered in the London Underground in 1942. The grit, the compassion, the determination that Britain has exhibited eight decades ago that inspired the world is exactly what we see in the people of Ukraine today, and it’s why we need to stand with them.

With that, Liz, over to you.

FOREIGN SECRETARY TRUSS: Well, thank you very much, Tony, and it’s great to be here with my friend and ally, Secretary Blinken. And we’ve certainly seen lots of each other around the capitals of Europe over the last week, working very closely with our allies.

Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine is causing immense pain and suffering. Yet he is not making the progress he planned. Since the buildup on the border, the United Kingdom and the United States have led work in the G7 and through NATO to challenge Putin’s aggression. Before the invasion, the United States and the UK called out his playbook of false flags, attempts to install a puppet regime in Kyiv, and fake provocations. We worked with our G7 allies to warn that he would face severe costs and a determined Ukrainian people.

We have surprised Putin with our unity and the toughness of our sanctions, hitting the banks, the ships, the planes, the oligarchs, and the oil and gas revenues. And the brave Ukrainian people have surprised him with their determination and their leadership. Now is not the time to let up.

Putin must fail. We know from history that aggressors only understand one thing, and that is strength. We know that if we don’t do enough now, other aggressors around the world will be emboldened. And we know that if Putin is not stopped in Ukraine, there will be terrible implications for European and global security. We would be sending a message that sovereign nations can simply be trampled on.

So we must go further and faster in our response. We must double down on our sanctions. That includes a full SWIFT ban, and the G7 ending its use of Russian oil and gas. The United States and the United Kingdom this week announced our plans to stop importing Russian oil, and the EU have announced their plans to reduce their dependency, too. We want to encourage a wider group of countries to get on board with our sanctions effort. A hundred and forty-one countries voted against Russian aggression at UNGA.

And we must continue to supply defensive weapons to Ukraine. I’m proud that the United Kingdom was the first European country to do that, and I welcome the decision of Germany, and Japan, and many others to send military aid.

Since the end of the Cold War, we took our eye off the ball. But we are now stepping up together, and we must never let down our guard again. We’re determined to keep strengthening NATO and urge all allies to increase their investment. We must accelerate NATO’s modernization, and deepen our cooperation on tech and cyber. We will end strategic dependence on authoritarian regimes for our energy and for other vital resources. And we will step up our work to build economic and security alliances around the world, including with India and the Gulf nations to further isolate Russia. We’ll keep working to bring more countries into the orbit of those who believe in the sovereignty of nation, and by playing by the rules.

The war in Ukraine is a struggle for the future of freedom and self-determination. We must not rest until Putin fails in Ukraine, and the country’s sovereignty is restored. Thank you.

MR PRICE: We’ll now turn to questions. Taking two questions per side, alternating, we’ll start with Kylie Atwood of CNN.

QUESTION: Good afternoon, or morning. Thank you for doing this.

Secretary Blinken, yes or no, do you believe it’s possible to get the Ukrainians MiG-29 fighter jets? If so, when and how?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Nothing for my friend? Okay.

QUESTION: I’ll go to you next.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: First, as we’ve said, the decision about whether to transfer any equipment to our friends in Ukraine is ultimately one that each government will decide for itself, and has to make. We’re in very close consultation with allies and partners about the ongoing security assistance to Ukraine, because in fact I think what we’re seeing is that Poland’s proposal shows that there are some complexities that the issue presents when it comes to providing security assistance. We have to make sure that we’re doing it in the right way.

You heard from the Department of Defense just yesterday about the particular proposal – the prospect of fighter jets at the disposal of the Unites States Government departing from a U.S. NATO base in Germany to fly into air space contested with Russia over Ukraine raises some serious concerns for the entire NATO Alliance. So we have to work through the specifics of these things going forward. And it’s not simply clear to us that there is a substantive rationale for doing it in the way that was put forward yesterday.

So what we’re doing right now is continuing to consult very closely with Poland, with other NATO Allies on this and the logistical challenges that it presents, together with Poland as well as with the UK and many of our other partners. As we’ve noted, we have provided extraordinary support to Ukraine and to those defending it from the Russian aggression, support that has been used extremely effectively by Ukrainian defenders, support that will continue in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Just yesterday, with the supplemental legislation being put forward, we have an additional $6.5 billion in security assistance that’s now on tap just from the United States for Ukraine. And that will of course include the very kinds of things that they need to effectively defend Ukraine against Russian aggression.

QUESTION: Thanks. And just to clarify, basically, what you’re saying is there is a creative way to get them these fighter jets possibly, but you haven’t figured out the pathway forward on that.

And then my second question for both of you is: With Ukrainian deaths mounting right now, what more can the U.S. and the UK do? Would either country be open to considering the possibility of a limited no-fly zone over humanitarian corridors to be set up in the country? Thank you.

FOREIGN SECRETARY TRUSS: So first of all, in answer to your question, the United Kingdom has been first of all supplying defensive weaponry into Ukraine, and in fact, we have been working with other allies across the world to help get that defensive weaponry into Ukraine, so have been supplying anti-tank weapons. Today our defense secretary announced that we will now be supplying air defense systems to address the specific issue the Ukrainians face, which is air defense. So we believe that the best way of tackling this threat is to help the Ukrainians with the Starstreak air defense systems that we will be supplying.

On the issue of a no-fly zone, of course it’s important, and I completely support what Tony has said about protecting humanitarian corridors and calling on Russia to respect those genuine humanitarian corridors, i.e., ones that don’t lead into Russia or Belarus. But the reality is that setting up a no-fly zone would lead to a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia, and that is not what we are looking at. What we are looking at is making sure that the Ukrainians are able to defend their own country with the best possible selection of anti-tank weapons and anti-air defense systems.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: And I agree with everything that the foreign secretary said.

QUESTION: And you think there’s a creative way to eventually get fighter jets to —

MR PRICE: Kylie, we need to – we need to move on. Please, go ahead.

MR SWIFT: Could we have Sarah Smith of the BBC, please.

QUESTION: Thank you very much. After the direct strike on a children’s hospital in Mariupol, President Zelenskyy is asking you both and NATO to stop the killings – close the skies, he says – and that if you don’t, you’re an accomplice to terror. How do you explain to him that there is no possibility of a no-fly zone in these circumstances?

FOREIGN SECRETARY TRUSS: Well, as I’ve said, Sarah, the best way to help protect the skies is through anti-air weaponry, which the UK is now going to be supplying to Ukraine. That’s what the defense secretary announced earlier today. And of course the attack on the hospital is absolutely abhorrent, reckless, and appalling. And the UK is at the forefront of supplying humanitarian aid into Ukraine. We’ve already pledged 220 million of humanitarian aid. Our DEC appeal has now reached 130 million, which is the largest amount it’s ever achieved since 2004.

So the British people are foursquare behind the people of Ukraine, and we’re doing all we can to support.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: And I would just add, as we already said, first, we both, our governments both, our people both, have tremendous admiration for President Zelenskyy, for his entire team, for the Ukrainian people that they represent. But the courage they’ve shown, the strength, the determination, the dignity faced with this Russian onslaught, is extraordinary, and it’s powerfully moving, I think, to people around the world.

If I were in President Zelenskyy’s position, I’m sure I would be asking for everything possible in his mind to help the Ukrainian people. And as the foreign secretary and I have laid out, both of our countries, and so many others, have done extraordinary things to make sure that the Ukrainians have in their hands the means to effectively defend themselves against this war of choice from Russia, as well as to do everything we can with very significant resources to care for Ukrainian people to the best of our ability inside Ukraine, those who have been forced to flee outside of Ukraine, to meet their humanitarian needs.

And the goal is the same. It’s to end this aggression. It’s to save lives and to prevent more ceaseless, senseless bloodshed. As part of that, we also have to see to it that this war does not expand. Our goal is to end the war, not to expand it, including potentially expand it to NATO territory. We want to make sure that it’s not prolonged to the best of our ability; otherwise it’s going to turn even deadlier, involve more people, and I think potentially even make things harder to resolve in Ukraine itself. So, as the foreign secretary said, we have exactly the same perspective on that.

Introducing, in our case, American service members in Ukraine, on Ukrainian territory or soil, or American pilots into Ukrainian airspace, whether on a full or on a limited basis, would almost certainly lead to direct conflict between the United States – between NATO – and Russia, and that would expand the conflict. It would prolong it. It would make it much more deadlier than it already is. And that would be neither in the interest of our countries nor in the interest of Ukraine. I can’t speak for NATO, obviously, but we’ve heard the same message from its secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg.

MR PRICE: Nick Wadhams from Bloomberg.

QUESTION: Thanks very much. Mr. Secretary, first for you on Venezuela, can you just tell us whether the U.S. is considering easing sanctions on Venezuela to get its oil absent of any progress on the negotiations with the opposition?

And then second, for both of you on the sanctions and the endgame, you mentioned, Foreign Secretary, that Putin must fail. So is it your strategy now to essentially exert so much pressure on the Russian people, oligarchs around Vladimir Putin, so that Russia will essentially, as Under Secretary Nuland said yesterday, might rise up and – I don’t know what – potentially overthrow him? Do you believe now that it’s simply impossible for the United States to have a productive or stable relationship with Russia if Vladimir Putin remains in power either during or once this conflict is over? Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: I’m happy to start. Nick, with regard to Venezuela, we have a set of interests with Venezuela. They include, of course, supporting the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people. They include securing the release of Americans who are unjustly detained there, and happily, last night, as you heard, two Americans, Gustavo Cardenas and Jorge Fernandez, were released. They had been wrongfully detained. They’re now reunited with their families. And it’s also true that we have an interest globally in maintaining a steady supply of energy, including through our diplomatic efforts.

So all of these things come to bear when it comes to Venezuela, as well as to other countries around the world where we have a multiplicity of interests and use diplomacy to try to advance them. And again, I have to say I’m very pleased that diplomacy brought two unjustly detained Americans home just last night. We will never let up anywhere, at any time, in the efforts to bring Americans who are unjustly detained back home.

FOREIGN SECRETARY TRUSS: We are very clear that our objective is for Putin to fail in Ukraine. This unwarranted act of aggression must not succeed, and there would be terrible consequences if it did succeed for European and global security. And the purpose of the sanctions is to debilitate the Russian economy, to stop Putin being able to fund his war machine from money gained from the oil and gas industry and from the technology that he’s been able to make available. So one of the things we’ve done, as well as putting huge sanctions on banks and on the SWIFT system, is putting export controls so that the technology that was being used to develop the military-industrial complex is simply not going to Russia.

It’s also worth saying that we’ve seen huge action from the private sector, whether it’s McDonald’s or other companies. And one of the issues in Russia is, of course, the lack of free media, the fact that the Russian people aren’t being told the truth. But they will be seeing now, by the fact that shops are closing, they’re not able to get the goods that they were able to get, exactly the implications that Putin’s aggression is – in Ukraine – is having for Russia.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, could you talk about that too? I mean, Under Secretary Nuland yesterday essentially said that the only way for Putin to reverse course would be for there to be so much pressure that the people around him, the military leaders, the ordinary people in Russia would rise up against him. So do you believe it’s possible to have a stable relationship with Russia if Putin remains in power?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, let me say a couple things to this. First, I think it’s important to remember that throughout this crisis created by Putin and Russia, we’ve sought to provide possible offramps to President Putin. He’s the only one who can decide whether or not to take them. So far, every time there’s been an opportunity to do just that, he’s pressed the accelerator and continued down this horrific road that he’s been pursuing.

He has a clear plan right now to brutalize Ukraine, but to what end? Because when it comes to an endgame, the big question in the first instance is: what is his endgame? We saw the failures of the initial military plan to quickly subjugate the country. That’s failed. So he’s now turning to a strategy of laying waste to the population centers, to the country. If his goal is to impose some kind of puppet regime by displacing the existing government and putting in place one to his liking, I think it’s pretty evident by the response of the Ukrainian people that they will never accept that. And if he tries to enforce such a puppet regime by keeping Russian forces in Ukraine, it will be a long, bloody, drawn-out mess through which Russia will continue to suffer grievously.

So our response continues to be to do everything we possibly can to make sure that the Ukrainians have the means to defend themselves; to make sure we do everything we possibly can to exert pressure on Russia and on Putin to change course; to do everything we possibly can, of course, to support those who are suffering as a result of Russia’s actions.

Ultimately, I am absolutely convinced that Putin will fail and Russia will suffer a strategic defeat no matter what short-term tactical gains it may make in Ukraine. As we’ve said before, you can win a battle but that doesn’t mean you win the war – on the contrary. You can take a city but you can’t take the hearts and minds of its people, and Ukrainians are demonstrating that every single day.

So I am convinced that we will see a strategic defeat of President Putin and the propositions he’s put forward. We’ll accomplish this by backing Ukrainians in their fight, by remaining united in holding Russia accountable through the devastating sanctions, the diplomatic isolation, and other measures. And we’ve already seen that Russia’s failed it its chief objectives. It’s not been able to hold Ukraine. It’s not going to be able to hold Ukraine in the long term – again, no matter what the tactical victories it may achieve are.

Liz was just saying, economically, the measures that we’ve taken have erased 30 years of progress integrating Russia into the world. This dramatic exodus – virtually every international company from Russia – continues as we speak, and that is having a profound impact not just today but over the long term.

So I think what we’re looking at is whether or not President Putin will decide to try to finally cut the losses that he’s inflicted on himself and inflicted on the Russian people. We can’t decide that for him. All that we can do is to continue this extraordinary effort to increase the pressure on him, increase our support for Ukraine, and achieve what we all want – which is the independence of Ukraine and a defeat for President Putin – because these methods are a fundamental challenge not only to Ukraine, but to the very principles of international peace and security that our countries have fought and worked to establish over many decades. That’s what is at risk here. We’re committed to defending them. We’re committed to standing for them until we succeed in making it clear that they will hold and Putin’s efforts to undermine them will fail.

MR SWIFT: Finally, can we have David Charter of the Times, please.

QUESTION: Thank you very much indeed. First question to Secretary Blinken. Secretary, it’s been reported in The Wall Street Journal today that Saudi Arabia and the UAE have both rebuffed attempts to set up conversations with President Biden in recent days. What does this snub tell us about relations with these two important Gulf states, and what do you – what’s your message to try and encourage them to produce more oil during this crisis?

And to the foreign secretary, please, you said a few days ago that you would absolutely support individual Britons going to Ukraine to take part in the fighting, though we have reports now of up to four British serving soldiers who are in Ukraine possibly or on their way. What information can you give us about that, please, and has your message changed as far as they’re concerned? And I might just add that in your opening comments, you did talk about asking NATO Allies to invest more. Does that mean we can expect that you will push for more defense spending in the UK? Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you very much. With regard to the Gulf countries, first, we share very important interests with them, from deterring Iranian aggression and Iranian-enabled attacks – whether it’s against Saudi Arabia, against the Emirates. We share a strong interest in supporting the UN-backed efforts to end the war in Yemen. We share an interest in ensuring the stability of global energy supplies. And we’ve had very constructive engagements with those interests in mind. Just yesterday I spent a fair bit of time on the phone with my Emirati counterpart. We’re all talking regularly. I’ve regularly met with my Saudi counterpart, including in Munich just a few weeks ago. The President, President Biden, spoke with King Salman of Saudi Arabia last month in a discussion that set out a very expansive agenda, and we’re now pursuing that agenda with our senior Saudi counterparts. They set out a work plan for us; we’re moving forward on it.

And I might add, we can do all of this while doing what we said we would do from the outset, which was centering human rights in our foreign policy. These priorities are not mutually exclusive. In fact, for us, they’re very much complementary. We’re not going to separate our values from our interests. We’ve made that clear in everything we’ve done, but we’re working productively, constructively with those countries. I think there was just an announcement a short while ago, as – I’m not sure if it’s been made publicly yet – about Emirati support for increased production when it comes to OPEC Plus, which I think is an important thing to stabilize global energy markets, to make sure that there remains an abundant supply of energy around the world.

FOREIGN SECRETARY TRUSS: I have been very clear that the travel advice from the United Kingdom is not to go to Ukraine. In fact, I repeated that message at the foreign affairs committee earlier this week. There are better ways of helping the efforts in Ukraine, namely donating to the DEC appeal. What I said the other week was expressing support for the Ukrainian cause. They are fighting a just war, and we are doing all we can to support them.

On the subject of defense spending, the reality is across the West, we haven’t spent enough on defense for a number of years. And we have seen a buildup of military capability from Russia in terms of both technology and numbers. And I welcome the fact the Germans are now increasing their defense spending; we’re seeing other countries follow suit. I’m not going to pre-empt any future discussions between the chancellor and the defense secretary.

But as well as conventional defense, we also need to step up our efforts in areas like information. One of the things that the United States and United Kingdom have been doing is using information, exposing intelligence we have to call out Putin’s playbook, and I think that’s been very important. But the fact is that the United Kingdom abandoned its information unit at the end of the Cold War, and the Russians didn’t abandon their information unit.

So we need to be making sure from every possible front – whether it’s conventional defense, whether it’s technology, or whether indeed it’s information – we are able to outcompete our adversaries.

MR PRICE: Thank you all very much.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you.


Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Meeting with Foreign Minister Lamamra of Algeria
03/10/2022

Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Meeting with Foreign Minister Lamamra of Algeria
03/10/2022 09:59 AM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met today with Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra in Algiers. The Deputy Secretary and Foreign Minister welcomed the opportunity to hold the fifth U.S.-Algeria Strategic Dialogue to discuss a range of issues in the bilateral relationship. They agreed on the importance of promoting regional stability, including support for ongoing UN-led diplomacy on the Western Sahara. They also discussed Putin’s premeditated, unprovoked and unjustified attack on the people of Ukraine. They agreed to expand academic exchanges and English language instruction in Algeria and advance diplomatic efforts for regional security. The Deputy Secretary and Foreign Minister also discussed the importance of protecting human rights, including freedom of expression and freedom of belief.


Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Meeting with President Tebboune of Algeria
03/10/2022

Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Meeting with President Tebboune of Algeria
03/10/2022 10:35 AM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met today with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Algiers. Deputy Secretary Sherman and President Tebboune discussed a range of issues, including ways to expand our economic cooperation. Deputy Secretary Sherman conveyed to President Tebboune that the United States looks forward to being the Country of Honor at this year’s Algiers International Fair. Deputy Sherman reaffirmed the importance the Biden-Harris Administration places on human rights, including media freedom and religious freedom. They also discussed regional security issues and international developments involving Putin’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified war in Ukraine.



Secretary Blinken’s Call with Polish Foreign Minister Rau
03/10/2022nister Rau
03/10/2022 11:33 AM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke by phone today with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau on coordinated efforts to provide security and humanitarian support to Ukraine in the face of Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified, and premeditated war and its inhumane and unconscionable attacks on population centers in Ukraine. Russia’s war on Ukraine is causing an increasing number of civilian deaths. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Rau discussed ongoing diplomatic efforts, including sanctions, to stop Putin’s war of aggression. The Secretary reiterated the United States’ steadfast support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Secretary and Foreign Minister also discussed the continued importance of providing security assistance to Ukraine. The Secretary expressed his gratitude and support for Poland’s extraordinary welcome and support to more than 1.33 million refugees fleeing Russia’s barbaric attacks on Ukraine. He also noted Vice President Harris will deepen the discussion on these and other issues during her visit to Poland.


Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Call with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Mori and Republic of Korea First Vice Foreign Minister Choi
03/11/2022

Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Call with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Mori and Republic of Korea First Vice Foreign Minister Choi
03/11/2022 07:44 AM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke with Republic of Korea (ROK) First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong Kun and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Mori Takeo today to discuss shared concerns about the DPRK’s WMD and ballistic missile programs. They also discussed the importance of unified action to hold Russia accountable for Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine.

Deputy Secretary Sherman strongly condemned the DPRK’s recent ballistic missile launches, which brazenly violated multiple UN Security Council resolutions and were a serious escalation by the DPRK. She underscored the ironclad U.S. commitment to the defense of our allies, the ROK and Japan. The Deputy Secretary reaffirmed U.S. commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and continued efforts to seek diplomacy with the DPRK.

Deputy Secretary Sherman, Vice Foreign Minister Mori, and Vice Foreign Minister Choi also discussed international efforts to hold Russia accountable for its unprovoked, unjustified, and unconscionable war against Ukraine. The Deputy Secretary and Vice Foreign Ministers also spoke about our shared efforts, including from the private sector, to support the people of Ukraine.


Secretary Blinken’s Call with Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah
03/11/2022

Secretary Blinken’s Call with Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah
03/11/2022 10:31 AM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke yesterday with Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister discussed the U.S.-Malaysia partnership, the importance of a strong international response to support Ukraine, and other regional and bilateral issues.


Secretary Blinken’s Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba
03/11/2022

Secretary Blinken’s Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba
03/11/2022 03:44 PM EST


Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to discuss the foreign minister’s trilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. Secretary Blinken updated Foreign Minister Kuleba on the joint actions the United States is taking today in coordination with the G7 and the EU to further raise the costs on Russia. He reiterated U.S. commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to continue surging security, economic, and humanitarian support to the people of Ukraine as they face increasingly brutal bombardment by Russian forces. They shared their concerns that Russia is escalating its disinformation campaigns to deceive the world, including at the United Nations. The Secretary provided an update on U.S. and global efforts to hold Russia accountable for its premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustifiable war against Ukraine and to hold Belarus accountable for its facilitation of Russia’s combat operations.




$200 Million in New Security Assistance for Ukraine
03/12/2022


$200 Million in New Security Assistance for Ukraine
03/12/2022 05:57 PM EST

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

The people of Ukraine are inspiring the world as they defend their country from Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified invasion of their country. The United States and our Allies and partners stand in solidarity with the people and government of Ukraine in the face of the Kremlin’s aggression.

Exercising the additional authority provided in the extension of the continuing resolution, I have immediately authorized today, pursuant to a delegation by the President, a fourth Presidential Drawdown of up to $200 million for additional military assistance for Ukraine’s defense. This package will include further defensive assistance to help Ukraine meet the armored, airborne, and other threats it is facing. This drawdown will bring the total security assistance provided by the United States to Ukraine to more than $1.2 billion since the beginning of the Administration.

We salute the armed forces of Ukraine and all Ukrainian citizens who are defending their country with great skill, iron will, and profound courage. America and its Allies support their efforts to defend their country and protect their fellow citizens, and urge Russia to recognize that force will never defeat Ukraine’s spirit. We are committed to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and will continue to provide Ukraine the support it needs.

We will also continue to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need and to back the people of Ukraine in their fight for their country through security and economic assistance. The international community is united and determined to hold Putin accountable.


Secretary Blinken’s Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba
03/13/2022
Secretary Blinken’s Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba
03/13/2022 08:55 PM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke by phone today with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to offer continued support to the people and government of Ukraine and to condemn the Russian Federation’s ongoing attacks on Ukrainian cities, which have caused increasing civilian deaths. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Kuleba discussed ongoing diplomatic efforts to stop Putin’s war of choice. The Secretary reiterated the United States’ steadfast solidarity with Ukraine in defense against the Kremlin’s continued brutal aggression.


Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Robinson’s Travel to Beirut, Vienna, and Chisinau
03/14/2022

Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Robinson’s Travel to Beirut, Vienna, and Chisinau
03/14/2022 08:09 AM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Todd D. Robinson traveled to Beirut, Lebanon from March 9-11. While in Beirut, Assistant Secretary Robinson met with members of the Lebanese government and presided over a ceremony commemorating the handover of the Aramoun Training Academy, a U.S.-funded facility that will help strengthen and expand the training capability and professionalization of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) and other partners. The Assistant Secretary also met with ISF leadership to highlight current U.S. support for the organization’s resilience and professionalization. He also met with female members of the ISF and the justice sector to highlight their contributions to civilian security and the rule of law in Lebanon.

Assistant Secretary Robinson is in Vienna, Austria from March 12-15. While in Vienna, he will lead the U.S. delegation to the 65th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs. As co-head of the U.S. delegation, he will meet with foreign partners to demonstrate U.S. solidarity and support for Ukraine as it faces Russia’s premeditated, unjustified, and unprovoked war. Assistant Secretary Robinson will also engage with partner and ally governments to drive global action and consensus to counter illicit narcotics and precursor chemicals contributing to the U.S. opioid epidemic.

Finally, Assistant Secretary Robinson will travel to Chisinau, Moldova from March 15-17 where he will meet with Moldovan government officials to highlight ongoing U.S. support for Moldova’s fight against corruption and its democratic reform agenda, as well as visit the Moldovan Police Academy. The Assistant Secretary will also discuss support for Moldovan authorities on the frontline of the humanitarian response to the crisis caused by Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine.

For further information, please contact INL-PAPD@state.gov or visit @StateINL on twitter.


Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Call with French, German, Italian, and UK Counterparts
03/14/2022


Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Call with French, German, Italian, and UK Counterparts
03/14/2022 01:07 PM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke today with French MFA Secretary General Francois Delattre, German MFA State Secretary Andreas Michaelis, Italian MFA Secretary General Ettore Sequi, and UK Minister of State for Europe and North America James Cleverly. The participants discussed further measures to hold Russia accountable for a war of Moscow’s choosing, including by imposing further economic costs. They discussed the provision of additional coordinated security and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. They also emphasized their continuing support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and their resolve to stand with Ukraine.


Slovenia – U.S. Strategic Dialogue Joint Statement
03/14/2022

Slovenia – U.S. Strategic Dialogue Joint Statement
03/14/2022 01:24 PM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

The following is the text of a joint statement by the Governments of Slovenia and the United States of America.

Begin text:

The Governments of Slovenia and the United States held the second session of the Slovenia-U.S. Strategic Dialogue in Ljubljana on March 14, 2022. The dialogue was led by Political Director Jernej Müller, Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Deputy Assistant Secretary Robin Dunnigan, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, U.S. Department of State.

Slovenia and the United States are linked by historical friendship, shared values, strategic partnership, and the NATO Alliance. Both countries exchanged substantive dialogue on key issues of common interest in December 2020 during the visit of Anže Logar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, to Washington, D.C. where the inaugural Strategic Dialogue between Slovenia and the United States was held. This dialogue provides the main framework for discussion on strategic global and regional issues and areas of bilateral cooperation.

The two countries exchanged views on the latest developments in Eastern Europe and its neighborhood, including their joint condemnation of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unjustified, unprovoked war against Ukraine. Both countries reaffirmed their unfaltering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the need for countries to respect their obligations under international law.

The second session took place at a time replete with global challenges, including Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic. The dialogue highlighted the importance both countries attach to bilateral cooperation and cooperation in multilateral fora in addressing issues that impact the security, prosperity, and resilience of both countries.

The dialogue covered three main topics:
global and regional security issues, including Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, cybersecurity, energy security, and countering disinformation;
multilateral cooperation; and
cooperation on economic issues, the climate challenge, and support for our shared democratic values.

On global and regional security issues, aside from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the discussion focused on the Western Balkans region, including the importance of maintaining positive momentum on EU integration for aspirants that qualify, the shared commitment to BiH’s stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; advancing the ongoing dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina; and new regional economic integration initiatives.

The discussion included reaffirmation of our commitment to mutual defense as members of the NATO Alliance, the premier forum for Transatlantic cooperation and Euro-Atlantic security, and the importance of building the Alliance’s tools and capabilities to tackle shared security challenges.

Slovenia and the United States enjoy close partnerships within international organizations, with the views of the two countries well aligned on a wide range of issues. The countries reaffirmed their excellent cooperation on human rights issues, the fight against corruption, the preservation of democratic values, and the commitment to maintain a rules-based international order. Slovenia presented its approach to addressing challenges to international peace and security in the context of its candidature for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2024-2025 term.

The discussion on other substantive issues also revealed a common understanding of challenges and opportunities, particularly in the areas of improving cyber-security and resilience, countering disinformation, and combatting climate change. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the framework of responsible state behavior in cyberspace and shared interest in holding accountable states that act contrary to this framework and engage in disruptive, destructive, or otherwise destabilizing behavior in cyberspace. Additionally, the two sides agreed the Three Seas Initiative could play an important geopolitical, economic, and developmental role in the region. Ample opportunities remain to strengthen our cooperation on economic issues, including on energy security.

The parties decided the next Strategic Dialogue would take place in Washington.

End Text.


Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Call with French Foreign Ministry Secretary General Delattre
03/15/2022


Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Call with French Foreign Ministry Secretary General Delattre
03/15/2022 12:54 PM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke today with French Foreign Ministry Secretary General François Delattre. The Deputy Secretary and Secretary General Delattre reiterated their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Putin’s war of choice. They agreed on the need for continued support for Ukraine and committed to continue to impose costs on Russia for its aggression.


Secretary Blinken’s Call with Azerbaijani President Aliyev
03/15/2022

Secretary Blinken’s Call with Azerbaijani President Aliyev
03/15/2022 12:43 PM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Secretary Blinken emphasized the continuing importance of the U.S.-Azerbaijani bilateral partnership and the U.S. commitment to promoting a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous future for the South Caucasus region. Noting recent reports of escalation between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces, the Secretary called for the sides to show restraint and intensify diplomatic engagement to find comprehensive solutions to all outstanding issues. He also stressed the importance of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Azerbaijan. The Secretary highlighted the U.S. commitment, alongside other partners, to continue to hold Moscow and its supporters, including the Lukashenka regime in Belarus, accountable for the Kremlin’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine.


Joint Statement on the Occasion of the 11-year Anniversary of the Syrian Uprising
03/15/2022


Joint Statement on the Occasion of the 11-year Anniversary of the Syrian Uprising
03/15/2022 12:01 PM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

The following statement was released by France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America on the occasion of the 11-year anniversary of the Syrian uprising:

Begin Text:

Today marks 11 years since the Syrian people courageously and peacefully took to the streets to demand freedom, political reform, and a government that respects and upholds human rights. The Assad regime met those demands with a brutal assault that continues today against the Syrian people. After 11 years of death and suffering, it is past time for the regime and its enablers, including Russia and Iran, to halt their ruthless attack on the Syrian people. The coincidence of this year’s anniversary with the appalling Russian aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a breach of exceptional gravity to international law and the UN Charter, highlights Russia’s brutal and destructive behavior in both conflicts. After more than a decade of conflict, the Syrian economic and humanitarian situation is bleak and millions of Syrian refugees hosted generously by Syria’s neighbors, as well as those internally displaced, cannot yet return home in line with UN standards, and without fear of violence, arbitrary arrest, and torture. Continued conflict has also led to space for terrorists, particularly Daesh (ISIS), to exploit. Preventing Daesh’s resurgence remains a priority.

We continue to support the UN-facilitated, Syrian-led process outlined within UN Security Council Resolution 2254. We will continue to call for a nationwide ceasefire, respect for international humanitarian law, and unhindered aid access through all modalities, including through the continued authorization of the cross-border mechanism by the UN Security Council. We additionally urge the immediate release of those arbitrarily detained and clarification of the fate and whereabouts of those who remain missing. We do not support efforts to normalize relations with the Assad regime and will not normalize relations ourselves, nor lift sanctions or fund reconstruction until there is irreversible progress towards a political solution. We encourage all parties, especially the Syrian regime, to participate in the March 21 meeting of the Constitutional Committee in good faith and call for the Committee to deliver on its mandate.

Impunity remains unacceptable. We will therefore continue to actively promote accountability, including through support to the Commission of Inquiry, the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism, and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). This also includes supporting organizations, many of which are Syrian-led, in collecting evidence and documenting the atrocities and serious violations of international law committed in Syria, including the use of chemical weapons. The OPCW’s Investigation and Identification Team’s (IIT) efforts continue to attribute responsibility for the abhorrent use of chemical weapons in Syria. Despite Syria’s lack of cooperation, the IIT has already confirmed the responsibility of the Assad regime in multiple chemical weapons attacks on the Syrian people. Those responsible for this disregard for the global norm against the use of chemical weapons must be held to account.

We welcome ongoing efforts by national courts to investigate and prosecute crimes within their jurisdiction committed in Syria and encourage increased support for these prosecutions. As their harrowing testimonies show, justice for victims and their families is long overdue. Pursuing accountability and justice is essential to building confidence in the political process called for in UNSCR 2254 and securing the stable, just, and enduring peace that Syrians need and deserve.


Promoting Accountability for Human Rights Abuses Perpetrated by the Governments of Russia and Belarus
03/15/2022


Promoting Accountability for Human Rights Abuses Perpetrated by the Governments of Russia and Belarus
03/15/2022 11:33 AM EDT

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

The United States, with support from Allies and partners, is taking action to promote accountability for the Russian and Belarusian governments’ human rights abuses and violations within and outside their borders. In doing so, we reiterate our condemnation of President Putin’s premeditated, unjustified, and unprovoked war against Ukraine, as well as the Lukashenka regime’s support and facilitation of the Russian Federation’s invasion. President Putin’s military campaign against Ukraine has caused extensive and needless suffering, many hundreds and likely thousands of civilian casualties, including children, and growing reports of human rights abuses and violations.

At the same time, the Russian government has intensified a crackdown against its own citizens’ freedom of expression, including for members of the press, as well as freedom of association and peaceful assembly. Today in Russia, those who provide factual reporting on the invasion or criticize Putin face criminal charges. Similarly, the Lukashenka regime in Belarus continues its violent repression against civil society, anti-war protestors, the democratic opposition, independent media, and ordinary Belarusians.

In response, the Department of State is announcing a series of actions to promote accountability for the Russian Federation’s and Government of Belarus’s human rights abuses and violations. These include:
Designation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka pursuant to Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2021. Lukashenka was publicly designated for his involvement in gross violations of human rights and significant corruption. Under this authority, Lukashenka and Lukashenka’s immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States, to include his wife, Galina Lukashenka, his adult sons, Viktar Lukashenka and Dzmitry Lukashenka, and his minor son.


Designation of 11 senior Russian defense officials by the Department of State pursuant to E.O. 14024. This includes Viktor Zolotov, the Head of the National Guard of Russia. Under Zolotov’s leadership, the National Guard has cracked down on Russian citizens who have taken to the streets to protest their government’s brutal campaign in Ukraine. In addition, Zolotov’s troops are responsible for suppressing dissent in occupied areas of Ukraine. More broadly, the designation of these 11 senior Russian defense leaders continues our imposition of severe costs on Russia’s Ministry of Defense as it pursues its brutal military invasion of Ukraine, which has led to unnecessary casualties and suffering, including the deaths of children. List here: https://www.state.gov/u-s-announces-sanctions-on-key-members-of-russias-defense-enterprise/


A new visa restriction policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act that applies to current and former Russian government officials believed to be involved in suppressing dissent in Russia and abroad. Family members of those who fall under the policy will also be ineligible for visas. We have taken our first action pursuant to this new visa authority against 38 individuals, and will continue to implement this policy to demonstrate solidarity with the victims of Russia’s repression.


Designation of two of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) officers in Crimea, Artur Shambazov and Andrey Tishenin, pursuant to Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2021. Shambazov and Tishenin were publicly designated for their involvement in a gross violation of human rights, namely torture.


Imposition of visa restrictions on six individuals who, acting on behalf of the Russian Federation, were involved in attacks on Chechen dissidents living in Europe. This action is being taken pursuant to the “Khashoggi Ban,” a visa restriction policy the Administration announced last year to counter transnational repression.


Imposition of visa restrictions on 25 individuals responsible for undermining democracy in Belarus pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 8015, including Belarusian nationals involved in the fatal shooting and beating of two peaceful protesters; security forces involved in the violent dispersal of peaceful protests; regime officials responsible for launching politically-motivated cases against members of the opposition and civil society; and individuals engaging in corrupt practices supporting the Lukashenka regime.

Additionally, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is imposing sanctions on Kurchaloi District of the Chechen Republic Branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, two of its officers, a Kurchaloi District prosecutor, and a district court judge in Moscow, pursuant to the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012. OFAC is also re-designating Alyaksandr Lukashenka for his corrupt practices, and, pursuant to E.O. 13405, designating Galina Lukashenka as a member of Lukashenka’s family.

Under President Putin, Russian authorities have repeatedly targeted human rights advocates, peaceful dissenters, and whistleblowers, and they continue to do so amidst their ruthless war on Ukraine. The Russian government has failed to take adequate steps to identify, investigate, prosecute, or punish most officials who committed abuses or violations, resulting in a climate of impunity. Likewise, the Lukashenka regime continues its brutal crackdown on peaceful activists while it intensifies its support to the invasion of Ukraine. We are taking action against this autocratic attack on democracy. The United States will continue to promote accountability for those who support, enable, and perpetrate human rights abuses in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and elsewhere.

For a complete list of today’s Department of the Treasury actions, please see this press release: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0654




U.S. Announces Sanctions on Key Members of Russia’s Defense Enterprise
03/15/2022

U.S. Announces Sanctions on Key Members of Russia’s Defense Enterprise
03/14/2022 07:40 PM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

The world has been transfixed as Russia has perpetrated a premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine. Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine has resulted in widespread human suffering and casualties, including the deaths of innocent civilians, including children. Today, the Department of State is continuing to impose severe costs on Russian military leaders.

Specifically, the following 11 individuals are being designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 Section 1(a)(i), as persons who operate or have operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy:
ALEKSEY KRIVORUCHKO is a Russian Ministry of Defense Deputy Minister of Defense.
TIMUR IVANOV is a Russian Ministry of Defense Deputy Minister of Defense.
YUNUS-BEK EVKUROV is a Russian Ministry of Defense Deputy Minister of Defense.
DMITRY BULGAKOV is a Russian Deputy Minister of Defense and a General of the Army. Bulgakov is the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense’s senior-most officer responsible for logistics matters.
YURIY SADOVENKO is a Russian Ministry of Defense Deputy Minister of Defense.
NIKOLAY PANKOV is a Russian Ministry of Defense Deputy Minister of Defense.
RUSLAN TSALIKOV is a Russian Ministry of Defense Deputy Minister of Defense.
GENNADY ZHIDKO is a Russian Ministry of Defense Deputy Minister of Defense.
VIKTOR ZOLOTOV is a Russian General of the Army and Commander-in-Chief of Russia’s National Guard Troops. He is a member of Russia’s Security Council.
DMITRY SHUGAEV is a senior leader of the Russian Ministry of Defense who is the Director of the Russian Ministry of Defense’s Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation.
ALEXANDER MIKHEEV is the Director General of Rosoboronexport, which is Russia’s state-controlled intermediary that carries out foreign trade with respect to military goods. Mikheev has been involved in synchronizing the supplies of weapons and special equipment using the Russian Ministry of Defense’s capabilities; has served as a member of an organizing committee led by Russia’s Minister of Defense of a Russian Ministry of Defense-organized military-focused forum; and has served on a delegation led by Russia’s Minister of Defense.

These persons will be added to the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons and all property and interests in property of the individuals above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt. These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.


Secretary Blinken’s Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba
03/15/2022

Secretary Blinken’s Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba
03/15/2022 04:06 PM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke by phone today with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to reiterate the United States’ ironclad commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and our resolve to provide security, economic, and humanitarian support to the people of Ukraine. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Kuleba discussed ongoing diplomatic efforts to stop President Putin’s war of choice. They shared deep concern regarding increasingly significant damage to infrastructure and buildings and resulting civilian deaths and injuries. The Secretary provided an update on the most recent U.S. and global efforts to hold Putin accountable for his unprovoked and brutal war. He commended the bravery and determination of the Ukrainian people in the fight for their country in the face of the Russian forces’ callous disregard for civilian life.


Additional Humanitarian Assistance for the People of Ukraine
03/15/2022

Additional Humanitarian Assistance for the People of Ukraine
03/15/2022 04:49 PM EDT

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

The United States is providing over $186 million in additional humanitarian assistance to support internally displaced persons and the more than three million refugees affected by Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified war in Ukraine. This will provide further support for humanitarian organizations responding to the crisis and complement the generosity of the neighboring countries that are welcoming and supporting refugees.

We call for an immediate end to Russia’s continuing war against Ukraine and for Russia to facilitate unhindered humanitarian access in Ukraine and safe passage for those who seek to leave the cities where they are trapped. Humanitarian aid deliveries must be allowed to continue without interference, and humanitarian workers must have safe passage to deliver aid and assistance to those in need.

The United States is the largest single-country donor of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, including providing nearly $293 million in humanitarian assistance both inside Ukraine and in the region since late February. Our funding to-date amounts to nearly $644 million to vulnerable communities in the region since Russia first invaded Ukraine eight years ago. Our humanitarian assistance flows through independent humanitarian organizations that deliver needs-based assistance with impartiality, humanity, neutrality, and independence.

The additional humanitarian assistance for refugees in Ukraine’s neighboring countries supports the provision of food, safe drinking water, protection, accessible shelter, and emergency health care through the support of our international and non-governmental partners. This funding will also help victims of this conflict maintain contact with family members who have been separated and promote family reunification when possible.

The United States commends the hospitality of the neighboring countries that are hosting those fleeing Ukraine. As with any refugee situation, we call on the international community to respond to the needs of those seeking protection in a way that is consistent with the principle of non-refoulement and states’ respective obligations under international law.

We welcome the contributions of other donors toward this crisis response and urge still others to generously support the immediate humanitarian needs in Ukraine and the region.


Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Wolf Blitzer of The Situation Room on CNN
03/16/2022

Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Wolf Blitzer of The Situation Room on CNN
03/15/2022 09:51 PM EDT

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

QUESTION: Let’s discuss what’s going on with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Mr. Secretary, thank you so much for joining us.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Hey, Wolf.

QUESTION: So I – as you well know, obviously, the President will attend this truly extraordinary meeting of all the NATO leaders next week in Brussels. Is this purely a show of NATO strength, NATO force, or will they take new concrete steps to stop the Russian aggression?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Wolf, it’s a continuation of what we’ve been doing all along, which is bringing allies and partners together in support of Ukraine in very concrete ways, and to exert maximum pressure on Russia to stop the aggression that it’s committing. And so the President has been in constant contact with his counterparts – from throughout Europe, NATO leaders, the European Union, et cetera, and around the world – but this is an important opportunity to have everyone in the same room, in the same place to continue to map out the strategy – the strategy that has, as I said, exerted incredible pressure on Russia as well as showing incredible support for Ukraine.

QUESTION: I assume all 30 leaders of NATO will be there. Just moments ago, President Zelenskyy signaled that Ukraine won’t join NATO anytime soon, saying – and I’m quoting him now as saying: for years we have been hearing about how the door is supposedly open to NATO membership, but now we hear that we cannot enter, and it is true and it must be acknowledged.* That’s a quote from President Zelenskyy. Is that a direct concession to Putin?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: I don’t think that’s a concession. I think, first of all, it’s a reflection of reality that even before this aggression by Russia, Ukraine was not going to get into NATO tomorrow. All the more reason why, as we’ve seen, when Putin was saying that their concerns about Ukraine centered on its admission to NATO, that was wrong; that was a lie. What this is about, what Putin’s demonstrated it’s about, is denying Ukraine its independent existence. But what we’ve done in support of Ukraine is to provide extraordinary security assistance that continues as we speak to make sure that Ukraine has the means to defend itself.

QUESTION: As the risk of miscalculation, though, grows, the UN secretary-general says that the prospect of nuclear – nuclear – conflict is now, and I’m quoting him now, “within the realm of possibility.” How real is the risk of this spiraling into nuclear war?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, President Biden has been very clear that one thing is for sure, is that we’re going to avoid getting into any kind of conflict with Russia, and certainly avoiding anything that brings us to World War Three. Some of Russia’s loose talk about its nuclear weapons is the height of irresponsibility and goes against everything that we’ve said, including that Russia has said over many years, about how a nuclear war is not winnable – something that was reaffirmed as recently as the meeting between President Biden and Putin back in – this summer in Geneva.

So we watch this very, very, very carefully. There’s a lot of bad, loose talk and bluster. At the same time, I have to tell you we have real concerns that Russia could use a chemical – a weapon, another weapon of mass destruction. This is something we’re very focused on. Unfortunately, we’ve seen them use or acquiesce to its use before in Syria, with Syria using these weapons, using them itself, trying to assassinate its opponents, including in the United Kingdom. So this is something we are very focused on.

QUESTION: Well, if they do use chemical weapons, what will the U.S. and the NATO Allies do?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: We’ve been very clear, including with Russia, with others, that there would be a very serious response not just from us, but from the international community. I’m not going to spell it out here, but the consequences would be severe.

QUESTION: Russia is also targeting civilians; they’re attacking hospitals, schools. Why is the White House so far refusing to come right out and say what the Russian – what the Russians are doing right now, that that’s a war crime?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: We are documenting everything we’re seeing. We welcome the efforts that are being made, including investigations conducted by NGOs and institutions to look at this, to put everything together to determine whether the acts that Russia is engaged in would constitute a war crime. We’re looking at whether there are deliberate attacks on civilians. There’s certainly very credible reports and evidence of that, but what we’re doing is putting it all together, documenting it, and the appropriate institutions will make that judgement.

QUESTION: The U.S. believes China has signaled some openness to providing military support to Russia. What’s your message, Mr. Secretary, to China as it weighs how much support it will actually provide to Putin?

SECRETAR BLINKEN: Well, Wolf, there are two things. First, there is the rhetorical support, or at least the absence of clear rhetorical denunciation by China of what Russia is doing. And this flies in the face of everything that China purports to stand for, including the basic principles of the UN Charter, including the basic principle of respect for sovereignty of nations. And so the fact that China has not denounced what Russia is doing in and of itself speaks volumes. And it speaks volumes not only in Russia or in Ukraine; it speaks volumes in Europe and in other places around the world.

Second, we are concerned at the prospect of China providing material support to Russia or undermining the sanctions that we put in place with countries around the world, something that we’ve communicated directly to China, including just this – in the past 24 hours when the National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, met with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.

QUESTION: So if the Chinese do provide military support to the Russians, what will the U.S. do?

SECRETAR BLINKEN: Again, without going into specifics of what we’ll do, we’ve made very clear that that’s not something that we’re going to take sitting down.

QUESTION: As you know, Putin is making truly outlandish and very, very offensive claims that he’s de-Nazifying Ukraine. You and I both have family who survived the Holocaust; President Zelenskyy does as well. Do you think the U.S. will look back on this time right now and wish the West had done more to stop Putin?

SECRETAR BLINKEN: Wolf, it’s hard to project into the future. I can tell you a couple of things, though, that I’m confident of. First of all, there’s going to be a Ukraine, an independent Ukraine, a lot longer than there’s going to be Vladimir Putin. One way or the other, Ukraine will be there, and at some point Putin won’t. The real question is how much death and destruction is wrought by Russia’s aggression in the meantime, and that’s what we’re working as hard as we can to limit, to stop, to put an end to this war of choice that Russia is committing.

And we’re doing that through the support we’re providing to Ukraine every single day. We’re doing that by the pressure we’re exerting against Russia every single day. And my hope is that we can end this sooner rather than later so that that death and destruction doesn’t continue. But I can tell you how this is going to end ultimately: It’s going to end with an independent Ukraine, and at some point, it’s going to end without Vladimir Putin.

QUESTION: So what’s your message to Putin right now?

SECRETAR BLINKEN: Message to Putin is: end this war; stop this war that you’re committing; end the aggression that is unjustified, unprovoked.

We’ve looked over many months at giving President Putin appropriate offramps to end this before the aggression, since the aggression started. Unfortunately, each and every time he’s pressed the accelerator. It’s time to stop with the accelerator. It’s time to stop the war, stop the killing, stop the destruction – that’s the message.

QUESTION: Sadly, he’s showing at least so far no sign of that. But we will hope and pray. Secretary Blinken, thank you so much for joining us.

SECRETAR BLINKEN: Thanks, Wolf. Good to be with you.

QUESTION: Thank you.


Briefing with Senior Administration Officials on the U.S. Humanitarian Assistance Response to Russia’s Further Invasion of Ukraine
03/16/2022

Briefing with Senior Administration Officials on the U.S. Humanitarian Assistance Response to Russia’s Further Invasion of Ukraine
03/15/2022 09:40 PM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

Via Teleconference

MODERATOR: Thank you, Ryan, and thank you, everyone, for joining us this afternoon for this briefing on the U.S. humanitarian assistance response to Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine.

Here at the top, before we get started, I would like to remind everyone that this briefing is on background with attribution to senior administration officials, and that the contents of this call are embargoed until the end of the briefing.

For the purposes of your reporting, you can refer to our briefers as Senior Administration Official Number One, Senior Administration Official Number Two, and Senior Administration Official Number Three.

Now, for your information but not for your reporting, I’m going to go ahead and let you know who our briefers are this afternoon. I’m very glad to have with us ; be Senior Administration Official Number One. ; be Senior Administration Official Number Two. And third, , or Senior Administration Official Number Three.

Okay, we’re going to start our briefing today just with some brief remarks from each of our speakers and then we’ll take a few of your questions. Again, let me just say that this briefing this afternoon is on the U.S. humanitarian assistance in response to Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine. I would like to go ahead and ask folks to please limit your questions to that topic. We’ve already had excellent briefings today from Press Secretary Jen Psaki over at the White House and Spokesperson Ned Price here at State covering the full gamut of issues with regard to Russia and its invasion of Ukraine, so we’ll ask you again to limit your questions to humanitarian assistance and our response in that regard.

Okay. And with that, I’m going to go ahead and turn it over to to get us started. ?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL NUMBER ONE: Thank you and good afternoon, everyone. I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you today about USAID’s humanitarian response to the crisis in Ukraine following Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion.

Since this senseless campaign of unprovoked violence has begun, 4.7 million people have been displaced in and out of Ukraine. That’s over 10 percent of Ukraine’s population, but one that the UN thinks the real figures may be significantly higher.

Putin’s war has turned nearly 3 million Ukrainians into refugees, including 1 million children, some of whom are forced to flee without their parents. Nearly 2 million people are displaced inside of Ukraine. We are hearing distressing reports from our partners in cities like Mariupol, where people remain in dire conditions and lack safe drinking water, food, fuel, and electricity. The extensive damage we are seeing also means that shelter may be inadequate at a time when people face cold weather. All of this is compounded by the terror of living under bombardment.

As the war continues into its third week, as just one of the many examples of the horrors civilians face, we are seeing Russian forces target schools and hospitals with a campaign of terror that has interrupted the cancer treatment for 1,500 children who are now forced to flee as bombs rain down on them while crossing into foreign countries with compromised immune systems during a pandemic with only the supplies they can carry.

We call for an immediate end to this needless war of aggression. Short of that, the United States strongly supports the United Nations’ call for the establishment of safe passage of civilians out of areas under Russian attack and safe passage for aid workers attempting to provide humanitarian and medical supplies. Russia must negotiate in good faith on these issues immediately.

In the face of this catastrophic toll on the people of Ukraine, you are seeing the U.S. stand united with our allies to aid those who are suffering. USAID’s Disaster Assistance Response Team, or DART, has been in the region since the early days of Russia’s unprovoked war, making up-to-the-minute assessments of humanitarian needs and quickly ramping up assistance in Ukraine.

Over the past week alone, USAID has rapidly deployed four planeloads of lifesaving supplies from our warehouse in Dubai and mobilized our partners to immediately stand up surge support.

This includes blankets, high energy biscuits, kitchen sets, water treatment supplies, which USAID partner International Organization for Migration, or IOM, will distribute to vulnerable Ukrainians.

We’ve also worked with our partner the World Health Organization to provide emergency health kits with vital medicines and medical supplies, as well as trauma and emergency surgery kits to support emergency surgeries. These supplies, which serve upwards of 100,000 people, are directly supporting the Government of Ukraine’s health care system, which has been badly damaged since the war began.

USAID partner the UN World Food Program also transported 500 metric tons of wheat flour, enough to provide bread for 500,000 people for a week, to Kyiv. A WFP-contracted bakery also delivered nearly 15 metric tons of bread – sent to meet the needs of 60,000 people – to hospitals in Kharkiv.

Through our partners, we also continue to provide critical psychosocial support to children, people with disabilities, and older people, operating mobile medical units and protection teams to reach remote, displaced, or homebound communities and conducting mine-risk education activities to minimize protection risk.

In total, the United States has provided nearly 293 million in additional humanitarian assistance in just the last two weeks, including nearly 81 million from USAID. We will continue to stand with the Ukrainian people during this crisis and work to meet their needs.

However, despite this project – progress, the situation on the ground in Ukraine is rapidly getting worse. Russian bombardment and shelling continues to damage the infrastructure needed to get aid to people, destroying roads, bridges, and railroads, and making it difficult for aid workers to reach people in need. In the absence of a ceasefire, humanitarian safe passage must be assured in order to allow aid workers to reach those in need. As humanitarian needs continue to rise, USAID is working closely with European allies and partners who are on the front lines of this response on how to support people displaced internally and other people affected by the conflict. We will continue to coordinate closely with the UN, other donors and partners to urge that robust humanitarian assistance can continue to prevent gaps in basic service delivery.

Thank you for your time. I’d now like to pass it to for remarks.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TWO: Hi. Thank you, , and thank you everybody for being here this afternoon.

I’m from , and we really want to underscore that our partnership with and commitment to the people of Ukraine and their government is steadfast and enduring. We will continue to support and stand with them.

Today I want to share with you more about the enormous humanitarian efforts underway to assist the 12 million people in need of assistance across Ukraine, and the nearly 3 million refugees throughout neighboring countries due to the Russian Federation’s unprovoked and unjustified attack against Ukraine.

We are working with the Government of Ukraine, neighboring governments in the region, the European Union, international organizations like the United Nations, and other partners around the clock to address the urgent humanitarian needs of this crisis. We are closely coordinating with these partners to monitor developments, assess needs, and respond accordingly.

Historically, the United States is the largest single country donor of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Since the start of the current crisis, we have announced nearly $293 million in additional assistance to those affected by Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine, including more than 186 million announced today. This includes nearly 81 million from USAID, and nearly 212 million from the Department of State, and we will continue to do even more.

With this new contribution, we will complement the tremendous efforts of neighboring countries generously welcoming refugees. We will work through our international and nongovernmental partners who provide food, safe drinking water, shelter, emergency health care, and protection. This assistance will also support vulnerable populations inside Ukraine, as our humanitarian organization partners work tirelessly to provide safe passage for evacuees trying to leave danger.

Since the conflict in Ukraine began eight years ago, the United States has provided over 644 million in humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities across Ukraine. We will continue to support our European allies and partners who are at the forefront of this response, as well as international organizations and nongovernmental organizations working to mitigate the humanitarian impacts of this crisis.

We are also committed to working with a range of partners and stakeholders, including the Ukrainian diaspora community, to ensure that humanitarian organizations are prepared to respond to existing and new needs that arise in Ukraine and the neighboring countries. The courage of the people of Ukraine and the generosity of all who have stepped up in their time of need is inspiring, and we will continue to stand with Ukraine.

Thank you, and I will turn it over to . Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL THREE: Thank you, . Good afternoon, everyone. I’m here representing to share information about visa processing for Ukrainians.

But first, just for a second, I want to go off – slightly off-topic and reiterate the State Department Travel Advisory for Ukraine is at a Level Four – Do Not Travel due to increased threat of Russian military action. Our recommendations to U.S. citizens currently in Ukraine is that they should leave now using available transportation options if it is safe to do so. We continue to encourage U.S. citizens in Ukraine to fill out our online form to let us know where they are, what they’re doing.

Turning to visas, given the suspension of our operations in Ukraine, the State Department is not offering visa services in Ukraine at this time. I’ll talk a little bit about immigrant visas first and then nonimmigrant visas. We want to share this information to further clarify visa options and outline alternatives to visas that Ukrainians may consider. It’s important to note that a visa is not a viable way to achieve refugee resettlement in the United States.

We understand that any U.S. citizens who leave Ukraine may have families with mixed immigration status, for example, a U.S. citizen whose spouse has not yet started or completed the immigrant visa process. We are prioritizing consular support to U.S. citizens and their immediate family members in this regard. The Immigration and Nationality Act defines immediate family members as spouse, unmarried children under 21, and parents, so that’s our focus for immigrant visas.

We have designated the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt as the processing post for all the immigrant visa applications that would have been processed in Kyiv, with the exception of adoption cases, which will be handled at the U.S. embassy in Warsaw.

Ukraine passport holders can enter Schengen countries without a visa. U.S. citizens and their immediate family members should relocate to a safe place and then follow detailed guidance on visa processing on our website and the website of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. U.S. citizens who are overseas with the immediate family members that I described and have not yet filed an immigrant visa petition with USCIS may request to file a petition at the nearest embassy or consulate that processes immigrant visas. Again, this only applies to the spouses, unmarried children under 21, and the parents that I just described. Individuals who already have a USCIS-approved current petition for an immigrant visa for their relatives of any kind who have not yet been scheduled for an immigrant visa interview may be able to request expedited processing through the National Visa Center.

Now turning to nonimmigrant visas, again, I want to reiterate that nonimmigrant visas are for temporary stays in the United States. They’re not the appropriate tool to begin an immigrant, refugee, or resettlement process. If a person applies for a B1/B2 visa, commonly called a tourist visa, but they are unable to demonstrate their intent to leave the United States after a defined period in order to return to a residence abroad, a consular officer will have to refuse the application. Nonimmigrant visa applicants may apply at any embassy or consulate where they are physically present and where appointments are available. A full list of embassies and consulates is available at usembassy.gov.

As a result of COVID – as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants may face extended visa interview wait times at some embassies and consulates, but once an interview appointment is made, applicants will have the ability to request an expedited appointment. However, they must describe the unique circumstances that justify such a request, i.e. justify that they go get an appointment earlier than many of the other people in a similar situation.

Finally, a note on adoption. The department is actively working with adoption service providers to provide guidance and answer questions during this critical time. Our website address – addresses adoptions and intended adoptions at various stages of the process and provides guidance on whom to consult and clarifications on the department’s potential role and ability to assist. Prospective adoptive parents should consult their adoption service provider about how the crisis in Ukraine may impact their adoption plans. They can also email adoption@state.gov with questions.

With that, I’ll turn it back to . Thank you.

MODERATOR: Great. Thank you to and and to for that. Operator, would you please give the instructions once again for getting into the question queue?

OPERATOR: Certainly. Ladies and gentlemen, if you’d like to ask a question, please press 1 then 0 now – 1, 0.

MODERATOR: Okay, let’s go to the line of Michelle Hackman.

OPERATOR: Okay. Please, go ahead. Your line is open.

QUESTION: Hi there, thanks for doing this call. I’m wondering if I guess someone from the refugee division can speak to there’s been some reporting about creating an expedited program for Ukrainian refugees to come to the U.S., particularly those with family members already here. Could you tell us what the latest thinking is about that?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TWO: Sure, and I will echo or refer everybody back to Jen Psaki’s comments on this earlier today as well, but the department is continuing to work to explore all possible options to support those who may want to resettle to the United States and meet the qualifications of our resettlement program. We are recognizing, though, that most people who are fleeing Ukraine are – prefer to stay in the region where they can travel visa-free and many have families and there are large diaspora communities, with the hope that they can return home soon. And so we do want to commend our European allies for keeping their borders open and continuing to provide protection to those who are fleeing.

If refugees are identified as having protection needs that cannot be met in the country where they currently are – again, recognizing that their immediate safety is of paramount importance – we will work with our UN partners and other resettlement partners to identify those that would be safer resettling to other countries, including the United States, and then we’ll seek to help assist them through our U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program. That program is not an emergency response program, so again, our goal would be to provide humanitarian assistance to keep people safe where they are for now while that process would continue.

MODERATOR: And let’s please go to the line now of Camilla Schick.

OPERATOR: Okay. Please, go ahead. Your line is open.

QUESTION: Hi. Hi, thank you for this. I was wondering if you could give a little bit more detail – and I understand the security concerns in providing detail on this, but any more detail about what the U.S. or USAID is doing to help particularly Ukrainian journalists, anti-corruption activists, ethnic minorities, members of vulnerable communities such as LGBTQ who want to leave the country because of the Russian advance and whether – given that they’re Ukrainian, whether there is some kind of special status or visa application process for them to be able to come to the United States or elsewhere. Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TWO: This is . I can start off on that and then let others chime in, but I would say – so first, our humanitarian organization partners are doing everything they can to continue to operate on the ground inside Ukraine to provide safe passage for evacuees trying to flee from the dangerous situation, including – particularly those who are most vulnerable, such as the groups that you have mentioned.

I – once refugees get to the border crossings, again, our international organization partners for whom we have now contributed a significant amount of resources in the past two weeks particularly focus on the protection of those groups that are most vulnerable and will seek to provide them with information at the border and where to go on the other side, and then again, our partners are on the other side of the border as well and will be providing protection to all of those who are most vulnerable, whether it be, again, dissidents, journalists, those who are LGBTQI+ individuals, those with disabilities, as well as third-country nationals who may be having challenges returning back to their home countries. So they are particularly attuned to those groups, and are focusing their protection efforts, including surging additional staff with explicit expertise at providing protection to vulnerable groups.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL THREE: And this is . On the very last part of that question regarding visas, the options for visa application are defined in statute. You mentioned journalists, you mentioned a couple other groups. As I had discussed in my remarks, the B1/B2 visa is just for general visits to the United States, business or tourism. There is a particular visa category for journalists who are coming to the US to work as journalists, called the I visa. Maybe you already – you guys may be very familiar. But apart from that, there are no – there’s a wide variety of visa categories, but I don’t believe any that would apply to the groups that you just noted. By far the vast majority of the nonimmigrant visa categories require a residence abroad and have a presumption of intending immigration that the applicant needs to rebut. But as I said, we are processing many emergency visa applications. We are not able to process the volume of the people who are thinking about that as an option.

I hope that answers your question. Over.

MODERATOR: Okay. And let’s go to the line of Erin Durkin.

QUESTION: Hi. Thank you so much for taking my question. I just have a two-part question on the use of humanitarian corridors, particularly by the USAID team on the ground. I first wanted to just ask a clarifying question – if and when these are established or agreed upon with Russia, if the focus of the USAID team is more about getting people out or if it’s also about getting supplies into the regions. And then the second part of that is how you will balance that with the safety of your own team given Russia’s particularly bad history with humanitarian corridors.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL ONE: Hi. Okay, thank you for that question. I’d first start by saying we – both USAID and the State Department work through and with nongovernmental and UN partners on the ground. Their safety and security is of the utmost importance to us, but this is not – these programs are not directly implemented by U.S. Government personnel. It is through our partners. Our focus is on both the evacuation of civilians who are seeking to leave these encircled cities, as well as getting critical food and medical supplies in along those same safe passages should they be negotiated by the parties to the conflict.

OPERATOR: And as a reminder, if you’d like to queue up for a question, it’s 1 then 0.

MODERATOR: And just on that last question, I would add that of course colleagues here, we want to do everything possible to save lives, which is why the U.S. Government, we of course support the establishment of humanitarian corridors. I would point out that there’s been I believe at this point six successive agreements for humanitarian pauses in fighting in Mariupol which have broken down. During one of those reported pauses on March 9th, a maternity hospital was targeted. These corridors will only be as effective as Moscow’s willingness to maintain them, and the corridors, while they would be welcome in the short term, are certainly no substitute for ending the war. And I know that the U.S. Government will continue to pull every lever to bring about that outcome.

Let’s go to the line of Abigail Williams. Abby.

QUESTION: Hi. Thanks so much for doing this call. A couple of questions. One of them, I wondered if you could just address sort of where you’re starting at here in this process where you are trying to help Ukrainians now after the system has been affected by COVID, by cuts in previous administrations, by processing the 70,000 Afghans that are being brought in recently, and how that impacts your ability to process visas now. And more specifically, I wondered what you would say to the Ukrainian American community here who obviously are very focused on their loved ones overseas trying to come over and may not be a direct family member, may not fit into that – the nuclear family category, maybe an adult sibling or something along those lines. And what would you say to them? How would you say they can help to bring their family over here, and how long would that process take? Thanks.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL THREE: Hi, yes. Many thanks for this question. So we – as you’ve been following, we have many – many, many things we need – we are doing with our limited resources. We are throwing many, many resources at the assistance for U.S. citizens in this region as well as visa processing, but the demand, as you can imagine, is very high, which is why we’re trying to educate the appropriateness of the immigrant visa and nonimmigrant visa channels so that the people who are using those pathways do so knowing what the requirements are.

With that respect, we are engaging with the Ukrainian diaspora. You’re exactly right, these are many of the questions. There are processes to bring other non-immediate relatives through the immigrant visa process. This might include your adult child of a U.S. citizen, it would include relatives of legal permanent residents, spouse and minor children chief among them. It would include your – even your siblings. This process is not immediate and it goes through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, after which we would process that application overseas. And some of the ones that we are processing in Frankfurt are those cases, it’s just we can’t process immediately sort of everything from the petition to the immigrant visa all as one package, only for those immediate relatives, spouse, minor children, and parents expeditiously.

Other than that, many people may very well qualify for a nonimmigrant visa, but it definitely depends on their situation. Again, the statute requires a residence abroad to which they have no intention of abandoning. It does not have to be their home in Ukraine. They have to have a plan for what they’re doing after – how does this trip to the United States fit in with their plans forward. Don’t – doesn’t have to be concrete; you have to rebut the presumption of intending immigration, that you have something else planned for after this trip of a defined period to the United States, which might make sense in some people’s cases, might not make sense depending on what their purpose of the travel is.

I want to emphasize each of those is a case-by-case analysis by the consular officer. They look at the totality of circumstances, and so it’s not a – that you can’t use this, it’s just if your plan is to go to the United States and you have absolutely no idea what you’ll do after that – which I have to say on a human level is very understandable – as U.S. consular officers who are charged with executing U.S. immigration law, they would be well advised to have much more of a plan afterward – I’ll be – going to go visit my aunts and come back to Poland where I’m enrolling in school, or Germany, or wherever. That’s all possible.

I hope that answers your question.

MODERATOR: Okay, one more time, if you have a question and would like to ask that question, please dial 1 and then 0.

Looks like we have a follow-up from Abby. Operator, would you please open up Abigail’s line again, please?

OPERATOR: Okay. Please, go ahead. Your line is open.

QUESTION: Sorry, since no one else is jumping in, I thought I might toss out another question. I recognize it’s difficult to give specific numbers, but I wondered if you might be able to say what the current backlog is in processing visas more broadly or speak to what that backlog looks like, or – and/or if you could give a little more specifics on what you’re seeing as far as applications for visas right now by Americans – by Ukrainians trying to come over to the U.S.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL THREE: I don’t have numbers for you at all on the backlog. We do – particularly, I assume you’re asking about nonimmigrant visas. Each post is different. I do want to emphasize, as I said at the top, we do have an expedite channel, so even if the wait time for a routine B1/B2 visa is lengthy, someone with exceptional circumstances – a medical or unique humanitarian need – can request an expedite. Thank you.

MODERATOR: Okay, great. With that, I’d like to thank our briefers today – , , and also . Again, thank you.

Once again, as a quick reminder, this call was on background today with attribution to senior administration officials. With that, we are concluding today’s conference call and the embargo is now lifted. Thank you.


Secretary Antony J. Blinken Virtual Remarks at the UN-Hosted High-Level Yemen Pledging Event
03/16/2022

Secretary Antony J. Blinken Virtual Remarks at the UN-Hosted High-Level Yemen Pledging Event
03/16/2022 12:01 PM EDT

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: President Cassis, thank you very much. It’s very good to see you today via video. To Secretary-General Guterres, António, thank you for bringing us together. Under Secretary Griffiths, thank you for the work you and your team are doing every single day, not only in Yemen but quite literally around the world. And to my friend Ann Linde as well, thank you for everything you’re doing in leading this conference. And I do want to say as well a special note of thanks to Special Envoy Jolie for doing something that’s so important, which is actually putting the focus on what this is all about – the men, the women, the children who are affected in so many ways by this ongoing crisis in Yemen.

And I hope that each of us just takes a minute as we’re thinking about this, thinking about our responsibilities, to try to put ourselves in their shoes, to imagine if this was your son or your daughter, your mother, your father, your sister, your brother, and think about what that actually means and maybe find some additional motivation to continue to take action. As Martin said at the outset and as others have said, we’re faced with a multiplicity of challenges around the world, and it’s particularly difficult when the spotlight has moved elsewhere. That’s when the real test comes. Can we keep our focus? Can we keep our engagement? Can we keep our determination? Can we run and chew gum at the same time? That’s what we have to do here, because once again, we are meeting at what is a dire time for Yemen.

We’ve heard the numbers. I won’t repeat all of them, but again, just to emphasize, two out of three Yemenis require humanitarian assistance for basic necessities. That includes more than 17 million Yemenis who need food assistance, a number that, as we’ve heard, is expected to rise to 19 million in the second half of 2022. The number of Yemenis facing famine conditions is predicted to increase fivefold to over 160,000, and right now, more than 2 million children suffer from life-threatening malnutrition. And we’ve heard, again, people pay witness to that.

And yet, even as humanitarian needs in Yemen are rising, contributions are falling. Funding shortfalls have already forced the UN to close or reduce two-thirds of its critical humanitarian programs in the country. Food rations for 8 million Yemenis have been significantly reduced. Without a significant surge in resources, those reduced rations will be eliminated entirely in the coming months, and again, I ask each of us to think about what that actually means in human terms. If that’s not enough, the Russian Government’s unprovoked aggression in Ukraine threatens a significant source of Yemen’s imported wheat. Just in the first week of this month alone, in March, many Yemenis saw bread prices shoot up 50 percent.

So to help meet the urgent needs, today the United States is announcing nearly $585 million in new humanitarian aid to Yemen. That brings the total we’ve provided since the outset of the conflict to about $4.5 billion. This is important. It’s important for all of us to step up, but there are other things that are vital if we’re actually going to deal with the challenge that people are facing in Yemen. To prevent a humanitarian catastrophe from fully unfolding, more support as needed, not just from us but from others. And we welcome the commitments made today by other donors. We urge everyone to step up, to do their part.

But as others have said, the humanitarian support is one side of the equation. This doesn’t work fundamentally in the absence of peace, in the absence of a resolution. So we have to work relentlessly to bring the conflict to an end, knowing that as long as it goes on so will the humanitarian crisis. We can mitigate it, we can reduce it, we can address it, but in order to really deal with it, we have to have peace. It’s as basic and as simple as that. Absent that, misery will continue; suffering will continue. We all know that. So we have to redouble our efforts there too as well.

To that end, the United States strongly supports UN Special Envoy Grundberg’s efforts to launch a more inclusive, comprehensive peace process that will improve the lives of Yemenis and allow them to collectively determine their own future. Our Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking is working to support that effort, including in his travel to Yemen and the Gulf over the past couple of weeks.

The first step toward resolution is de-escalation, and yet here too, in recent months, we have seen just the opposite. That’s why we condemn the escalating attacks by the Houthis, including cross-border attacks in January that killed civilians in the United Arab Emirates, wounded civilians in Saudi Arabia. It’s why we continue to work to help strengthen the defense of our Saudi and Emirati partners. It’s also why we call on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law, stop attacks on civilians, stop attacks on civilian infrastructure. Humanitarian assistance has to be allowed to flow into Yemen through all entry points throughout the country, freely, without interruption. And attacks on the staff of humanitarian organizations have to stop immediately. Every country has a responsibility to bring pressure to bear so that life-saving aid can actually get to those who need it.

For all the suffering that’s been wrought by this conflict, I have to say that it’s also demonstrated the remarkable heart, the remarkable courage of the Yemeni people. There’s so many individual examples of this. Some of them come to the fore through the spotlight that people like the special envoy bring to this, the media in its efforts to report what’s going on. But I’m thinking of people like Ameen Jubran, who co-founded Jeel Albena, an organization that aids displaced Yemenis. The group’s motto is: by Yemenis, for Yemenis. It’s built more than 18,000 emergency shelters for displaced families.

To Ameen, a mean a shelter is more than a roof. Here’s how he put it: If they have adequate shelter, it protects the family’s dignity. This is something that he knows intimately. Like so many of his colleagues, he and his family have been displaced multiple times since the conflict began. And yet, they continue to risk their lives in some of the most dangerous parts of Yemen to help others live with dignity.

So we have to do all we can to ensure that the United Nations and countless groups like Ameen’s can actually continue their life-saving work in Yemen. That’s what today is all about, and even as we do that, we have to redouble our efforts to finally – finally – bring peace to this country. Thank you.


Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Steve Inskeep of NPR’s Morning Edition
03/16/2022

Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Steve Inskeep of NPR’s Morning Edition
03/16/2022 12:57 PM EDT

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

QUESTION: You said – and I’ll just read this – “we have to be prepared, unfortunately, tragically, for this to go one for some time,” meaning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I want to explore some of the implications of that. Do we need to be prepared for the reality of the continued destruction of Ukrainian cities?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Steve, I’m afraid that we do. We’ve seen the brutality that Vladimir Putin has brought to this. We know his track record in Chechnya. We know the track record of what he’s aided and abetted in Syria. I think we have to expect the same. And part of the reason we have to expect the same is that this has not gone according to Putin’s plan. It’s – he anticipated that somehow they would go into Ukraine, the Ukrainians would either somehow welcome them or, at least, fold their tents and move out, and of course, exactly the opposite has happened. You’ve got more than 40 million Ukrainians who are standing strong in opposition to Putin, to Russia, and who will never be subjugated to Russia.

QUESTION: But we’re talking about this now going on for some time, watching this ongoing destruction for some time. How hard is it going to be to watch that destruction and continue saying no to some of the kinds of aid that President Zelenskyy is asking for?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, let’s focus on what we’re saying yes to, because it’s been extraordinary. The support that we’ve provided, other countries have provided in coordination with us in terms of security assistance – the stuff that is actually working, that is getting into Ukrainian hands, that’s making all the difference in them being able to defend themselves, being able to shoot down Russian planes and take out Russian tanks – that’s been an extraordinary effort, and as I said, it’s ongoing. We’re about, thanks to Congress, to get another $13.5 billion, a big chunk of which will go to that effort. We’re coordinating efforts around the world to get this kind of assistance in, and that’s happening, and that’s working.

Second, we’re exerting extraordinary pressure on Putin and Russia itself. One of the reasons that President Biden is going to Europe next week, going to NATO and meeting with other European leaders, is to sustain that effort, sustain the effort for Ukraine and against Russia.

QUESTION: Are you prepared to send more kinds of armaments, such as longer-range anti-aircraft missiles, like the old Soviet S-300s?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: In short, we’re looking at everything that we believe can be effective, and that’s the main thing. We want to make sure that what we’re providing, what others are providing can get there, get into Ukrainian hands, and be used effectively.

QUESTION: You mentioned, Secretary Blinken, the sanctions against Russia. Of course, if the war goes on for some time, the sanctions go on for some time. They begin to feel permanent. How is the world likely to be a different place if Russia is permanently unplugged from the global economy?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, Steve, two things. First, sanctions in and of themselves are not designed to be permanent. They’re a tool, and if you get the result that you’re trying to achieve, the sanctions go away. And so my strong hope would be that this war gets brought to an end, that Putin stops the aggression, and then the sanctions ultimately stop.

But yes, there are certainly changes that we’re seeing and changes that can be profound. One of the changes is that Europeans are looking really hard – not only looking but starting to act – on energy diversification, on energy security, and weaning themselves off of Russian oil, Russian gas. That would be a major change. One of the things we’re doing is denying Russia the technology it needs to modernize its country, to modernize key industries – defense and aerospace, its high-tech sector, energy exploration. All of these things are going to have profound effects, and again, not just the immediate effects we’re seeing, but increasing and growing over time.

QUESTION: Some of these changes would seem almost irreversible at this point, Mr. Secretary. Are you still prepared to tell Russia that if the shooting stops, the sanctions can all stop, that everything can go back the way that it was?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: If the war ends, Ukraine’s independence, territorial integrity, sovereignty are restored, then many of the tools that we’re using to get to that result – of course, that’s the purpose of them. They’re not designed to be permanent. We will want to make sure, they will want to make sure that anything that’s done is in effect irreversible, that this can’t happen again, that Russia won’t pick up and do exactly what it’s doing in a year or two years or three years.

QUESTION: Are the United States and its European allies capable of isolating China in the way that you’ve isolated Russia if China were to aid Russia beyond some certain point?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, China is already on the wrong side of history when it comes to Ukraine and the aggression being committed by Russia. The fact that it has not stood strongly against it, that it has not pronounced itself against this aggression, flies in the face of China’s commitments as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council responsible for maintaining peace and security. It’s totally inconsistent with what China says and repeats over and over again about the sanctity of the United Nations Charter and the basic principles, including the sovereignty of nations. And so we’re looking to China to speak out, to speak up, and to be very clear.

Second, of course, if China actually provides material support in one way or another to Russia in this effort, that would be even worse. It’s something we’re looking very carefully at. But I think this is doing real damage to China reputationally in Asia, in Europe, in Africa, and other parts of the world – something it has to pay a lot of attention to.

Meanwhile, we have an incredibly destructive situation with a country that is being bombed, people being killed, the country destroyed. I would say too – I’m speaking to you as a journalist – we’re seeing, of course, the horrific toll on Ukrainians, on civilians, mothers, fathers, daughters, women, children.

We’re also seeing journalists in the crossfire, people doing their jobs to bring the truth to the world. We’ve seen a Fox team that was – had two of its members killed, one injured, someone I know very well. This is Ben Hall. He’s someone who travels with me when I travel around the world, someone I have great affection for, who’s a tremendous reporter who asks me a lot of tough questions every place we go. I’m very much hoping and praying that he’ll be back on the job as soon as possible, but meanwhile two of his colleagues lost their lives in this attack, and another very prominent filmmaker lost his life just the other day.

QUESTION: Do you have reason to think that Russian troops are targeting journalists?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: We are looking very hard at the targeting that the Russian forces are doing, including whether they are deliberately, intentionally targeting civilians, journalists, anyone else. This is something we’re looking hard at, we’re documenting. Others are looking at this. The deliberate targeting of civilians, journalists, and others would constitute a war crime. So it’s something that we’re very focused on.

QUESTION: Of course, there’s an information war going on here, and this too would go on for some time. The Ukrainians have been very effective in getting their message out. The United States, it would seem, has been effective in getting its message out. But let me ask you about another aspect of this. How, if at all, does the United States intend to counter voices at home who have routinely repeated Russian talking points on TV?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, Steve, happily, in my job I don’t do politics. I certainly don’t do domestic politics. But what we have seen is this – or at least what I’ve seen is this. I’ve spent a lot of time talking to members of Congress. There’s incredibly strong bipartisan support for this effort, the effort to support Ukraine, the effort to punish Russia for what it’s doing and put pressure on it. I saw that not just in Washington in the halls of Congress, I saw it recently at the Munich Security Conference, where there was a very strong delegation from Congress – bipartisan, both houses.

QUESTION: You don’t need to worry about the wing of the Republican party that has been openly sympathetic to Putin over the years?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Again, I don’t do politics at home.

QUESTION: Understood.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: I would just hope that, as everyone looks at this – Americans and beyond – the picture is very clear; it couldn’t be more clear. We have an aggressor; we have a victim. We have a country in Russia that is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, a Security Council that came into being with the main purpose, the main mission of maintaining international peace and security, a country now that has done more than any other to blow up that international peace and security by an unprovoked aggression against Ukraine.

That’s what the world should be focused on, because, Steve, it speaks not only to Ukraine and to the suffering of its people – it actually speaks to the entire world, because these basic principles that Russia is violating, that Russia’s aggressing, are the principles necessary to actually keep the peace, keep security, keep international stability. If we allow them to be violated with impunity, we open a Pandora’s box of conflict, of confrontation, of war that we tried to close after two world wars. That’s what Russia is threatening right now.

QUESTION: Final thing, Mr. Secretary: Do you have any channel that is open to Vladimir Putin right now to communicate about any way to end this war?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, various leaders, countries have sought to communicate with him, may even remain in communication with him. Of course, the Ukrainians are talking to the Russians. We over many months offered President Putin offramps to avoid this aggression in the first place, and even since the aggression has been committed. Tragically, each and every time, instead of taking an offramp, he’s pressed the accelerator. So diplomacy ultimately is going to have to be part of the solution to this, but that really depends on Vladimir Putin engaging in meaningful —

QUESTION: But when I say do you have a channel, I mean the United States. Does the United States have any channel open to Putin?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, there are always ways of communicating. Let me leave it at that.

QUESTION: Secretary Antony Blinken, thanks so much. Enjoyed it.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks, Steve. Good to be with you.



2022 Roadmap for the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse
03/16/2022
2022 Roadmap for the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse
03/16/2022 12:52 PM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

Context

The Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse (Global Partnership) will bring together countries, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector to better prioritize, understand, prevent, and address the growing scourge of technology-facilitated gender-based violence. The Global Partnership is also an action coalition as part of the Denmark-led Technology for Democracy initiative. It will address gender-based online harassment and abuse in the long term, with an initial mission to deliver concrete results by the end of 2022.

Background

The digital world holds immense potential to amplify the voices of women, girls, and LGBTQI+ individuals. At the same time, social-media platforms and other digital technologies have given rise to new forms and manifestations of gender-based violence through their misuse; and exacerbated preexisting forms of gender-based violence through their scale, speed, and reach. Moreover, this occurs within an ecosystem characterized by a gender digital divide rooted in structural gender inequalities, in which those who design—and, in some countries or regions, access and use—communications technologies are disproportionately male. Often, gender-based online abuse and harassment reflects and exacerbates offline discrimination and gender disparities: research indicates that its prevalence can be higher in regions where women and girls have lesser legal status, rights, and protections. Because gender-based online harassment and abuse can transcend national borders, and be an added dimension of violence in political and ethnic conflict, meaningful efforts for protection, prevention, and accountability require global, multi-sectoral action and coordination.

Gender-based online harassment and abuse includes a wide range of acts that are amplified or enabled by social-media and technology platforms to control, attack, and silence women and girls, particularly those who have a disability, and/or identify as LGBTQI+ or as a member of a racial, ethnic, or religious minority. It is a continuum of technology-facilitated gender-based violence that can include (but is not limited to) the non-consensual distribution of intimate digital images; cyberstalking; sextortion; doxing; malicious deep fakes; livestreamed sexual violence; rape and death threats; disinformation; and intimate-partner violence. Some forms of gender-based online harassment and abuse are criminal; others are not, but are nonetheless harmful. Survivors and victims can experience psychological distress, trauma, long-term mental-health impacts, physical and sexual violence, exploitation, and, in some cases, homicide or suicide. They may also face economic insecurity and political and social exclusion as a result of being targeted online, and step back from leadership roles and opportunities. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this problem and its impacts, in parallel with the rise in other forms of gender-based violence during this public-health crisis.

Acts of gender-based online harassment and abuse threaten the safety and ability of individuals to exercise their rights, online and offline; and the strength of inclusive, representative democracies. In individuals’ private lives, gender-based online harassment and abuse can take the form of intimate-partner violence, stalking, financial abuse, or workplace harassment. At the societal level, anti-democratic forces—both state and non-state malign actors—increasingly misuse technology to lead gendered campaigns of information manipulation against women in public life, including politicians, activists, and journalists. These acts have a chilling effect on women’s political participation and are intergenerational: for example, witnessing or experiencing gender-based online harassment and abuse can discourage political and other ambitions of adolescent girls and lower their participation in civic and political debate, both online and offline.

Why the Global Partnership?

Within the last decade, individual countries; United Nations agencies, funds, and programs; the G7; and civil-society representatives have increasingly called for an end to gender-based online harassment and abuse, alongside growing acknowledgment of this issue by the technology sector. Despite these efforts, significant gaps in research, policy, and evidence-informed practices to understand and address this challenge persist. Meanwhile, gender-based online harassment and abuse continues to rise, both in prevalence and impact.

Informed by survivors, advocates, and researchers, a broad consensus has formed on the steps needed to drive progress. These include, among others, expanding data on prevalence, forms, and impact of gender-based online harassment and abuse, while also enhancing access to platform data for researchers, civil society, and journalists; remedying the insufficient incentives and responsibility for technology platforms to monitor, prevent, and address the problem; strengthening laws and other frameworks to deter perpetrators and hold them accountable; and scaling support for survivors.

The Global Partnership will work to fill these gaps, elevating the challenge of gender-based online harassment and abuse and advancing international solutions, as well as working toward concrete progress in each member country. It will focus on developing solutions to address the impacts to individual survivors and victims in their private lives, including in the context of intimate-partner violence; and the societal costs of online harassment, violence, and gendered disinformation directed toward women in their public lives, including as journalists, politicians, or activists.

Objectives

The Global Partnership will focus its work on three strategic objectives:
Develop and advance shared principles. Partners will develop a collection/compendium of international best practices and principles that situate certain forms of gender-based online harassment and abuse as a type of intersectional gender discrimination, as a threat to democratic values—particularly in the context of gendered disinformation in elections—and, where applicable, as a violation or abuse of human rights with reference to both international and regional instruments. This includes emphasizing the need for greater accountability for perpetrators and framing the experience of gender-based online harassment and abuse as an impediment to individuals’ ability to exercise their right to freedom of expression; enjoy their rights related to privacy; and fully and equally participate in civic and political life.
Increase targeted programming and resources. Together, partners will focus resources on preventing and responding to gender-based online harassment and abuse, including programs that provide training and support to civil-society organizations, journalists, and politically active women on best practices to document and respond to technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
Expand reliable, comparable data and access to it. Partners will improve the regular collection of comparable data (at the national, regional, and global levels) on gender-based online harassment and abuse and its effects by governments, international organizations, technology platforms, and non-governmental organizations. They will also pilot and evaluate innovative, evidence-informed interventions. Such data should be collected in accordance with safety and ethical standards, and measure the prevalence, impact, and political and economic costs of gender-based online harassment and abuse, particularly at the intersection of gender, race, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The Global Partnership will also invest in building a rigorous evidence base to enhance understanding of risk and protective factors associated with experiencing and perpetrating gender-based online harassment and abuse.

Membership

As members of the Global Partnership, countries share several goals and expectations. By joining the Partnership, partners commit to:
Prioritize the problem of gender-based online harassment and abuse and to act in coordination with others to fulfill the Partnership’s three strategic objectives.
Devote the necessary time and staffing to make meaningful progress in achieving those objectives in 2022. Countries might consider assessing whether there are opportunities to devote resources to addressing gender-based online harassment and abuse, including in existing policy and programs, domestically and internationally. This commitment may but need not include funding contributions.
Advance activities within their own countries to prioritize and address gender-based online harassment and abuse, and collaborate with non-members to help advance the Partnership.
Refrain from and oppose the spread of gendered disinformation or any other form of gender-based online harassment and abuse by any state.

The United States, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia, and the Republic of Korea form the initial set of member countries in the Global Partnership.


Secretary Blinken’s Call with Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu
03/16/2022

Secretary Blinken’s Call with Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu
03/16/2022 03:07 PM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Cavusoglu discussed the Kremlin’s war against Ukraine and ongoing diplomatic efforts to stop President Putin’s war of choice. The Secretary provided an update on U.S. support to the people of Ukraine and efforts to hold Putin accountable for his unprovoked and brutal war. Secretary Blinken thanked Turkey for its commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as Turkey’s efforts to assist Ukraine in its time of need.


Welcoming the International Court of Justice’s Order Directing the Russian Federation to Immediately Suspend Military Operations in Ukraine
03/16/2022

Welcoming the International Court of Justice’s Order Directing the Russian Federation to Immediately Suspend Military Operations in Ukraine
03/16/2022 08:01 PM EDT

Ned Price, Department Spokesperson

The International Court of Justice today issued a significant ruling in Ukraine’s case against the Russian Federation under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The ruling clearly and unequivocally ordered Russia to immediately suspend the military operations Russia commenced last month and further directed Russia to ensure that anyone subject to its direction, including military or irregular armed units, take no steps in furtherance of such military operations.

The Court – which plays a vital role in the peaceful settlement of disputes under the UN Charter – stressed the need for States to act in conformity with their obligations under international law, including the laws of war. And the Court expressed deep concern about the extreme vulnerability of the civilian population of Ukraine, the numerous civilian deaths and injuries that have resulted from the Kremlin’s actions, and the significant material damage, including the destruction of buildings and infrastructure. The Court further noted its profound concern with the Russian government’s use of force and emphasized the Court’s acute awareness of “the extent of the human tragedy that is taking place in Ukraine” as well as the “continuing loss of life and human suffering.” The Court also observed that it did not possess any evidence substantiating Russia’s claims that genocide had been committed by Ukraine in the Donbas region.

We welcome the Court’s order and call on the Russian Federation to comply with the order, immediately cease its military operations in Ukraine, and to establish unhindered humanitarian access in Ukraine.

The United States will continue to act with our allies and partners in support of Ukraine.


Secretary Blinken’s Call with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Al-Thani
03/17/2022
Secretary Blinken’s Call with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Al-Thani
03/17/2022 12:26 PM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke yesterday with Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. Secretary Blinken affirmed that the United States and Qatar are united in their efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people. The Secretary thanked the Foreign Minister for Qatar’s continued support for Ukraine’s sovereignty. The two also discussed Afghanistan and other important regional issues.

Secretary Antony J. Blinken Roundtable with Journalists
03/18/2022

Secretary Antony J. Blinken Roundtable with Journalists
03/18/2022 03:11 PM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

U.S. Department of State

Via Teleconference

MR PRICE: Good afternoon, everyone. Thanks very much for joining. This is Ned Price with the Department of State. We’re very pleased to see so many of you on screen today and we’re really gratified to have the opportunity. As you know, this will be an on-the-record (inaudible) to speak with Secretary Blinken. He’ll have some opening remarks and then he’ll go into taking your questions.

With that, I’ll turn it over to the Secretary.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Ned, thanks very much. Hey, good afternoon, everyone. It’s good to either – to see some of you, to see names for those I can’t see, and really wanted to thank you for joining and getting together this afternoon.

(Break.)

QUESTION: I think you’re muted, Mr. Secretary.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Oh, all right. Sorry about that. So let me start again with apologies. Two years into this, we’re still having challenges with Zoom and the like, but anyway, I was just saying first it’s – really appreciate everyone coming together this afternoon. I was making a bad joke about how, when you usually talk to a secretary of state, it’s probably about elections, not necessarily about geopolitics. But there’s a real reason that I was looking forward to getting together with this group.

One of the things we’ve been trying to do at the department is really connect up what we’re doing to the actual lives of our fellow citizens, and to connect with them in ways that we might not normally connect with them, and particularly to connect with them through the main institutions where they actually get their news, get their information, and that’s you all. So that’s a big piece of it.

Second, there’s kind of this mystery or mystique about foreign policy as being something that is happening halfway around the world and that doesn’t have a real bearing necessarily on the lives of our fellow citizens. Now, of course – and I’ll come to this – Russia-Ukraine has been dominating our papers and our screens for the last few weeks, but in the normal course of business, it’s not something that’s necessarily readily apparent. But to us it is, and it’s something that we really want to continue to have a conversation about.

First, one of the principles that we’ve been inspired by, animated by, is that when we’re not engaged in the world, when the United States is not leading, at the table, in the room, then one of two things: either someone else is and doing things in a way that may not actually advance the interests of the American people or the values that we hold, or maybe no one is and then you tend to have vacuums and chaos and that usually has a way of coming back and biting us. At least that’s the lesson that we take from our history. So we think and we’re trying to help fellow citizens understand why just being out there and engaged as the United States is important.

And then there’s a second part that’s so important to that, at least from our perspective, is when we’re thinking about the things that are really having an impact on the lives of our fellow citizens, not a single one of them can be effectively addressed by us either going into a corner of our own or acting on our own.

And so when you think about it, if you’re concerned about climate change, well, we’re 15 percent of global emissions, so even if we did everything right at home, we’re still not dealing with the 85 percent of emissions that are coming from other countries. We have to be working with them and that’s why we spent so much time not only getting back into the Paris Agreement, but working through many, many efforts to try to move things forward and getting other countries to lift their ambitions and do things even as we’re doing things.

If you care about COVID, we keep learning this the hard way: No matter what we do at home, if we’re not also helping to ensure that the world is vaccinated, we know what’s going to happen. We’re going to get another variant that may come back and bite us and maybe do it in a way that defeats the vaccines that we have. So there’s a real premium on being out there and working with the world to try, even as we’re doing what we can at home, to make sure that other countries are doing the same.

And then this technology that’s dominating our lives and that’s allowing us to get together today, all of the emerging tech that is literally shaping people’s lives, we can’t shape the way it’s used by ourselves. There are rules that go with it. There are norms and standards that go with it. And increasingly, those are shaped not just by us, but by other countries around the world and international institutions, et cetera. And again, if we’re not in there doing it and leading it, all of those rules and norms and standards that go with how technology is actually used in terms of privacy, in terms of security – all of those things will happen in a way that escapes our own efforts to shape it and may come back and be harmful to our own citizens.

So I can go across the board, but most of the big things that are really affecting people, we need to be engaged with others, we need to be engaged with international institutions. That’s the best way to advance what we’re trying to do in the interests of Americans around the world. And that’s why it’s really important for me to try and for all of my colleagues to try to connect the dots to what we’re doing around the world to what people are actually experiencing in their own lives. And of course, I think people have known that for a long time when it comes to economic issues and particularly when it comes to trade.

That brings me – and I want to – really want to open it up for any questions that people have. That brings us to what is dominating the news cycle right now, and that’s Russia-Ukraine. I think people are moved by what they’re seeing on their iPhones, on their TVs or reading about in their newspapers, because on a human level, it’s very powerful. We’re seeing one very big country commit a war of aggression against a neighbor that’s done nothing to, in any way, deserve that. And we see the human suffering that’s going on before our very eyes and that moves a lot of people. We see the flood of refugees. This is now the biggest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. That’s how many people are on the move as a result of this aggression. We see it in the buildings destroyed and lives blown apart by the bombs and rockets and mortars. And we see it in the women, the kids who are being so directly affected.

So I think it’s touching people, but one of the things that we tried to also underscore and underline is that as much as this is about what’s going on in Ukraine, it’s also about something bigger, which is why we’re so invested in it. Because what really happened over the last century is we went through a couple of world wars, both of them ultimately drew the United States in, and we tried to do everything we could – after the second one – to put in place some basic rules and understandings to make it less likely we’d ever see another one. And all of the things that happened back in the late 1940s and early 1950s about standing up the United Nations and standing up the international financial institutions, standing up NATO – all of these things were really about making sure that we had some basic understandings about how countries relate to one another that made it a little less likely that there would be conflict, that there would be war, and that we’d get drawn into something again.

One of the key – obviously, the key things was the United Nations, the Security Council. The Security Council and the five permanent members – the United States, Russia, China, the UK, France – were – is charged with one mission above all, above all others. The responsibility each member has is to do everything possible to maintain international peace and security.

So here we have one of the permanent members of that Council not only not maintaining international peace and security, but exploding it by attacking another country, and attacking some of the basic principles that are at the heart of the United Nations Charter and these international understandings that were designed to prevent wars from happening again, like states deserve to have their sovereignty respected; like they need to have their territorial integrity respected; one country can’t simply go in and change the borders of another by force, or dictate to it its choices, its future, its policies, with whom it’s going to associate.

So all those things are in play. And in our view, at least, if we are not standing strongly for them, and if we’re allowing them to be challenged with impunity, it risks opening a Pandora’s box, not just in Europe but around the world. That makes conflict and war and chaos more likely and, ultimately, affects – will affect us in profound ways. We’ve seen the effect already of this war that is in Ukraine, that it’s having on everything from gasoline prices to food prices. And we know also that it is taking us away from doing many of the things that we need to do on climate, on COVID, you name it.

So these things are, in a world that has become more and more interconnected over many years, they’re inescapable. And so we have a real interest in trying to shape them to the best of our ability in ways that don’t come and bite us.

And that brings me back to where I started and where I’ll finish, which is it really does start with American engagement, with American leadership. One of the main responsibilities that we were given by President Biden when we started this was to try to revitalize, re-energize, reinvigorate our alliances and partnerships by actually showing up, rolling up our sleeves, working with our partners, listening to them, consulting with them, and just doing that day in, day out, relentlessly on the phone, in person, by video, building cooperation and habits of working together.

And we did a lot of that. We really made that investment. And I think we see now that it pays off in the crunch. We’ve done more with our European partners cooperatively in dealing with the Russian aggression in Ukraine than I think anyone expected, and certainly more than we’ve seen in many years. And that means the burden is shared, the results are there, and we’re more effective.

But it doesn’t just happen by itself; it happens because we make these investments in time and resources and energy to build these relationships and to be able to work together effectively.

So…the end of the day, that’s part of the story that we’re trying to tell, that we want to tell. And one of the ways I think we can most effectively do that is by talking to you, because you’re how so many people in our country are getting their stories, hearing what’s going on. That’s the narrative, and you’re the ones who are delivering it and, in many ways, shaping it.

So with that, let me stop talking at you and start listening.

MR PRICE: We’ll now take questions. If you have a question, feel free to unmute yourself or raise your hand, either digital or real.

Yeah, Liz, go ahead.

QUESTION: Hey, Mr. Secretary, thanks so much for doing this. I had a question basically about how President Biden is approaching this moment, this kind of perilous moment. I think we’ve – you mentioned what people back home are hearing, and I think they do hear from some lawmakers that they feel like President Biden is acting too scared of Putin, that in some of the moves on the jets, for example, that he’s being too cautious. And President Biden has this long history dealing with Putin on this issue of Ukraine and in general. So I’m wondering if you could speak at all to how he views Putin, like, as sort of an adversary in this moment and if that’s informing any of that caution that we’re seeing.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Sure, thanks. Let me say a couple of things. First of all, there may be a natural tendency sometimes to look at something that we’re not doing, which of course jumps over what we are doing. And let me start there because it’s important.

Well before the aggression that Russia committed took place, we saw this coming; we worked very hard to try to keep it on a diplomatic track, dialogue, avert this aggression. But even as we were doing that, we were preparing for the possibility and, increasingly, the likelihood that Russia would reject diplomacy and dialogue and pursue the aggression. And so well before they went in, over the previous year, President Biden provided more security assistance to Ukraine in that year than in any previous year. And as a result, the Ukrainians had in their hands when the Russians came in the very kind of equipment that has been incredibly effective in dealing with planes attacking from the air, tanks firing from the ground, missiles and rockets, et cetera. All of that stuff – the anti-air equipment, the anti-armor equipment – much of that was already there because he had made that commitment and followed through on it.

Similarly, we said for months that if Russia committed an act – this act of aggression, there would be massive consequences, including unprecedented economic sanctions. And I think some folks thought, well, that sounds good but what are we really going to see if it happens. I think we’ve demonstrated that when we said there would be massive consequences, there were, there have been. As a result of these sanctions, done in an unprecedented way in terms of their coordination with other countries, we’re basically seeing Russia’s economy in a freefall. The ruble is through the floor. Russia’s credit rating is junk status. The stock market’s been closed for three weeks. We’ve seen an exodus of virtually every leading company, brand, firm from Russia over the last few weeks such that basically in the space of a few weeks, 30 years of Russia opening to the world and creating greater economic opportunity for our people has vanished as a result of President Putin’s terrible actions.

So all of that’s happening, and of course we remain the leading provider of humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians, whether in Ukraine or those who have been forced to flee. So when it comes to the things that are making the Ukrainians most effective in dealing with this onslaught from Russia, we’ve been providing it, and you heard the President yesterday describe in some detail another $800 million in security assistance and everything that that actually translates into. So that’s really important.

The Pentagon, when they looked at this, we – there’s a lot of talk about the airplanes. And by the way, President Zelenskyy is, as I think we’ve all seen, extraordinary and his leadership is both inspiring and genuinely heroic because he’s remained right in harm’s way leading his people. And if I’m in his shoes, I’m going to be doing – I’m going to be asking for everything that I can possibly get. I totally understand that. We have to make judgments and determinations about what makes the most sense when it comes to the airplanes, for example. The Pentagon made a determination that these would actually not be the most effective things that Ukraine could get, that what is effective is exactly what we’re doing and doing even more of, which are these anti-air and anti-armor systems that are actually shooting down planes and destroying tanks and armored vehicles. That’s what’s working.

Second, I’d just say this: We obviously have an incentive in trying to end this war as quickly as possible, not expand it, including to places beyond Ukraine. And at the end of the day, all of us, every single one of us, except for one person, can – has the freedom to say oh, we should do this, that, or the other thing, and in very good faith, but only one person bears the ultimate responsibility for making that decision, for deciding, and with the responsibility of what is in the interest of the United States and our people, and that’s the President. The buck stops there. So I can advise something; Senator X can advise something, Congressman Y, a newspaper columnist, whatever. But ultimately the responsibility, the burden of the decision falls on the President, and he is best placed to make the judgment about what’s ultimately in the interest of the American people. That’s how he’s looking at it.

So we’re determined to support Ukraine, and we are. We’re determined to exert extraordinary pressure on Russia, and we are. But the most important thing is he’s got to do all that, making a judgment about what’s fundamentally in our interest, and that’s how he’s proceeded.

QUESTION: And on that point of his insight into Vladimir Putin?

MR PRICE: Liz, we’re just going to move around, and if we have time we’ll come back. But we’ll go to Ashley Murray.

QUESTION: Hi, Secretary Blinken. Thank you so much for your time. I have two questions. First is I understand – you just explained and I’ve read that the U.S. is the leading provider of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. But I’m wondering if you can comment on the U.S.’s possible plan or anything in the works to extend that to other countries surrounding Ukraine as they face the refugee crisis flooding over the borders, and possibly even to Europe beyond the eastern flank.

And then secondly, many of the persons and entities on the sanctions list now, specially designated persons and banks, Russian banks – we’re also (inaudible). Can you comment on how these (inaudible) round would do anything (inaudible) they’re more effective? Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: So Ashley, I’m sorry, I didn’t quite get the second part of your question about the sanctions and the different entities. Could you repeat it, because you were breaking up a little?

QUESTION: So sorry. Why these (inaudible) of sanctions would be more effective than the ones announced in 2014 or even some in 2018.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Got it. Thanks. Got it. Thank you. So with regard to the humanitarian assistance piece of this, the supplemental funding that Congress has provided, which is very, very significant and powerful – we got about $13.6 billion – of that about $4 billion goes to humanitarian assistance for Ukraine. But that includes, significantly, not just assistance that we’re trying to get into Ukraine to help Ukrainians who are still there but also to help Ukrainians who have been forced to flee to the neighboring countries, as well as helping those countries sort of support the burden that they’re bearing of taking in so many people as refugees, for however long that lasts.

So there’s significant resources going to that, that are going to neighboring countries to help them, that are going to organizations like UNHCR to support the work that they’re doing directly. And as we’re doing that, we’re also working – I was on, for example, a call today with my counterparts from the G7 countries. These are the world’s leading democratic economies, and so it’s France, it’s Germany, it’s the UK, it’s Italy, it’s Canada, it’s Japan, as well as the European Union. And one of the things we’re talking about today is how we can effectively channel our resources to support countries, particularly the neighboring countries that are bearing such a burden – Poland, little Moldova, Romania, others. And we’re very focused on doing that and making sure they have the resources they need.

We’re also looking when it comes to refugees about what we can do ourselves and talking both to UNHCR about that, looking what we can do in a sort of coordinated way with these other leading countries to try to deal with some of the burden that refugees will pose to these countries. So more on that in the days to come, but already a big chunk of our assistance is actually going to neighboring countries.

On the sanctions piece, what’s different this time is – there are a number of things that are different, but first and foremost, I think what you’ve seen take place with the sanctions on virtually all of the leading Russian financial institutions, the banks and others, have been devastating to their ability to do business. The sanctions on the central bank have meant that even though Russia built up a lot of reserves, they’ve been unable to use those reserves to prop up the ruble. They can’t go and buy rubles abroad because they’re sanctioned, and the value of the currency has plummeted. As I mentioned, the stock market’s been closed for three weeks as well.

The elites that we’ve sanctioned, well, not only are we preventing them from doing things, but we’re – much more aggressively than we’ve ever done in the past – actually going after them. And there is a whole task force that was set up with other countries to freeze and seize their assets – the mega yachts, the fancy apartments, the sports cars – in ways that they’re going to feel very directly. Many of them are finding it impossible to do business with anyone anymore.

And then we’ve seen something extraordinary that is not the direct result of the sanctions, but has been incredibly powerful, and that is this exodus of virtually every leading company from Russia. I mean, if you – I had a document that a few days ago was probably eight or nine pages long – it’s probably almost double that by now – with this list of everyone from McDonald’s to Apple to Coca Cola to Toyota to Netflix to MasterCard and Visa to you name it. And that is actually having a very dramatic impact on Russians in their day-to-day lives – not something any of us do or see with any joy or pleasure, not at all. But we have to maximize the impact that we’re having on Putin and his decision making, and that’s one way to do it.

Last thing I’ll say on the sanctions is that one of the things you’re going to see have an impact over time are the export controls that we put in place with other countries to deny Russia the technology that it needs to modernize critical industries – defense, aerospace, energy exploration. And as a result, they will not be able to modernize, to develop these sectors in ways that will help their economy advance or help strengthen their strategic interests or position. That’s going to be felt increasingly over time. And then to the extent that they are a supplier of such equipment and technologies to other countries, those countries are not going to be interested in taking stuff that is increasingly outdated and ineffective.

So there’s a huge immediate impact, and an impact that’s going to build over time for as long as this goes on. Of course, the purpose of all of this is not to have these things in perpetuity. The purpose of the sanctions is to change their conduct, along with everything else that we’re doing. And so that’s what we hope happens. But I think by just about any objective measure, the sanctions themselves are unprecedented when you go through each and every one of them, and the impact they’re already having is unprecedented – look at every metric of the Russian economy and you can see that things are going through the floor.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) Secretary. Thank you for doing the call. When you talk about sanctions and the impact, obviously, as you put it, they have had an impact but they haven’t been able to deter Putin from invading, from targeting civilians, hospitals. And you’ve talked about now the possibility of chemical weapons being used. What you have on the table that could either deter him or that you could do beyond what’s already been done to increase the punishments if he does use chemical weapons?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: So, of course, you hope that the prospect of sanctions – of economic measures – will prove to be a deterrent and actually prevent the aggression that you’re trying to prevent. And certainly, as we worked on these for many months and coordinated these with allies and partners and made very clear that there would be massive consequences, our first hope was that that would help deter the aggression. It didn’t. So now there are two things that are in play. One is – we’ve demonstrated that when we said there would be massive consequences, there are. That’s being felt more and more each day. And so at some point, that price, that burden, that impact may have the effect of stopping what Putin has started.

But ultimately, I think what is really having an impact there is the extraordinary resistance, courage, bravery of the Ukrainian people, supported by us and many other countries, in terms of the impact that they’re having on this Russian onslaught. And we’re seeing that virtually everything happening on the ground in Ukraine is not going according to Putin’s plan – far from it. And, again, you’re all seeing it, reporting it pretty much every day. The cumulative impact of all of that – the pressure being brought to bear and the resistance that is having a powerful impact on the invading forces – that at some point in time we hope will push Russia to do something different. The problem is it’s not flipping a light switch. It does take time for them to reassess, calculate their interests, and to see that what they’re doing is profoundly not in their own interest.

So I think that will build. That’s why I was saying earlier that we also have to, I think tragically, be prepared for this to go on for some time, because it – again, it’s not like flipping a switch. It accumulates, the pressure builds, the consequences build, and ultimately, countries have to reckon with that and change what they’re doing as a result of that.

So that’s where we are, and it’s unfortunately a process, not a – not something that’s automatic.

MR PRICE: Jerry, go ahead.

QUESTION: Secretary Blinken, thank you for doing this. It’s very helpful. I have kind of a multi-pronged question about the refugee crisis. First of all, I’m wondering what your sense is, at this point in time, whether there will be large numbers of Ukrainian refugees who would like to resettle in the U.S., what your approach to that may be, whether it’ll be through the UNHCR process or something else, and whether they’ll be going to the kind of metro areas that have been very welcoming over time to refugees, such as Buffalo.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. Couple of things on that. First, just to emphasize, this is already the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II just in terms of numbers. And I think there’s every expectation that it’s going to grow. And so we’re well north of 2.5 million people at this point, not to mention those who are displaced within Ukraine. And as long as this goes on, the brutality continues, more and more people will leave. That’s the situation we’re dealing with now, but it’s also the expectation that we have going forward.

And it’s why countries are coming together to figure out what we can do, both individually but also collectively, to help care for, welcome, support those who are refugees – either by supporting other countries that are taking them in or taking people in ourselves. That’s – and so a lot of work is going into addressing that right now, making sure the resources are there, making sure that the lead organizations like UNHCR are where they need to be and have the support that they need to have, et cetera.

What we’re seeing right now – but this is likely to change at some point, but – as the numbers grow bigger – right now the strong desire of most people leaving is to stay as close to Ukraine as they can, and certainly to stay within Europe, for a couple of reasons. One is, I think as you know, the people leaving now are almost all women and children. Adult men, men between the ages of 18 and 60, are asked to stay in Ukraine to fight for their country. And so the women and children who are leaving and separating from husbands and sons and brothers, they want to stay, if they can, as close at hand as possible in the hopes that they can be quickly reunited and in the hopes that the war will end quickly and they can go home. Second, many Ukrainians have family, relatives in Europe, and once you’re in Europe, you have a fair bit of freedom of movement. And so their second impulse is to get together with family and others in Europe itself.

Having said that, given the numbers that we’re looking at, there is almost certainly going to be an interest, a demand on countries far from Europe – including the United States – to take people in. In the first instance, we have the referral process that I know you’re familiar with, where someone goes to UNHCR, seeks refugee status, and then people get referred to us. But that’s a lengthy process, and what we’re looking at is whether there are more near-term steps that we can take that would help do our part in bringing people to the United States – for example, family reunification. This is one of the things we’re looking at right now.

I expect that we’ll have more to say about that in the coming days as we really plunge into this, but we’re determined to do our part in showing that we’re a place of refuge and welcome as well, and particularly because there are such strong Ukrainian American communities here, I know that people would be very welcoming. But more in the coming days. For now, we’re focused on helping countries that are already taking in refugees, supporting UNHCR, and looking at some near-term ways that we can do things like family reunification.

MR PRICE: Yvonne, go ahead. Yvonne, I think you’re still on mute.

QUESTION: Thanks so much for doing this, Secretary. What is the State Department doing to try to allow for Brittney Griner to meet with consular officials in Russia? Why have requests for such a meeting been denied thus far? And can you give us a sense of what difference such a meeting would make? Separately, can you give us a sense of what her condition is?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks. So we – whenever an American is detained anywhere, our job, our responsibility, our determination is to make sure that we’re doing everything possible to help them, to defend their rights, and to see what assistance, if any, they need. And that’s anywhere in the world where this happens in one way or the other.

In Brittney’s case, in the first instance, we weren’t talking about it with any specificity because there were privacy concerns that we needed to respect. Now, what I can tell you is that we’re in very active contact with her team, with – literally with the WNBA, as well as with her lawyers and other representatives. We are and have been seeking consular access because we want to see firsthand how she’s doing. We want to make sure that we know that she’s okay.

And this is, by the way, required under international law. The Russians are required to give us that access. They have not; it has been denied. So we are working very hard on getting it, on being able to get access to her, to hear directly from her how she’s doing, and to make sure we’re doing everything we can to see to it that her rights are being respected and upheld in the Russian system and in terms of international law.

So it’s a work very much in progress. I wish I had something positive to report in terms of actually getting access. To date we’ve not been able to do that.

MR PRICE: All right, seeing no other hands, want to thank everyone for taking part in this. We do want to make this a regular occurrence, and even when the Secretary isn’t available, please do know that you can come to us at any time. I think you all know how to reach our – me and our press office. If you don’t, we’re happy to pass along that information, but thank you all very much for taking part and we look forward to seeing you again before long.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks, everyone. Appreciate it. Good to be with you.

QUESTION: Thank you.