Under Secretary Fernandez’s Travel to Paris
03/21/2022
Under Secretary Fernandez’s Travel to Paris
03/21/2022 11:29 AM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez will travel to Paris, France, March 23-25, to participate in the International Energy Agency (IEA) 2022 Ministerial Meeting and engage in bilateral discussions with international counterparts. The Under Secretary will also meet with private industry to advance energy security and clean energy transition topics. The Ministerial Meeting, the first since 2019, will focus on addressing current energy security concerns, including Putin’s unjustified and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, accelerating the clean energy transition and incorporating clean energy into the heart of the IEA’s mission. During the Ministerial, IEA will welcome new association countries into the IEA family.
Under Secretary Fernandez will be joined by Bureau of Energy Resources Senior Bureau Official (SBO) Harry Kamian, who will have just concluded his visit to Brussels, Belgium, from March 19-21. In Brussels, SBO Kamian will meet with European Union officials to discuss energy security and the clean energy transition. In Paris, as the State Department’s representative on the IEA Governing Board, he will participate in the IEA Ministerial Meeting.
For media inquiries, please contact ENR-PD-Clearances@state.gov.
Under Secretary Zeya’s Travel to Pakistan, Tunisia, and the UAE
03/21/2022
Under Secretary Zeya’s Travel to Pakistan, Tunisia, and the UAE
03/21/2022 03:49 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya will travel to Pakistan, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates from March 21 to March 30.
Under Secretary Zeya will begin her trip in Islamabad where she will lead the U.S. delegation to the 48th session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers conference and meet with senior government officials, as well as members of civil society and international organizations. During her OIC engagements, the Under Secretary will highlight the deep and close ties between the United States and the OIC member states, underscore the need for humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, and advocate for human rights and freedoms for all. The Under Secretary’s bilateral meetings will address regional security developments, Pakistan’s generous hosting of Afghan refugees and support for Afghan relocation efforts, worldwide condemnation of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, and celebrating the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Pakistan diplomatic relations
Under Secretary Zeya will then travel on March 23 to Tunis where she will meet with senior government officials to discuss inclusive political and economic reforms, protecting human rights, and the integral role civil society plays in a strong democracy. During her meetings, the Under Secretary will also discuss bilateral and regional issues and the economic challenges that Tunisia is facing as a result of Russian aggression against its neighbor. Under Secretary Zeya will also meet with human rights defenders, organized labor leaders, and other Tunisian civil society representatives to hear their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities confronting Tunisia.
Under Secretary Zeya will then travel to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, from March 27 to 29. While in the UAE, the Under Secretary will meet with senior Emirati government officials to advance Abraham Accords implementation and exchange views on advancing human rights, strengthening regional security, and ending the war in Yemen and Syria.
The Evacuation of Pediatric Oncology Patients to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
03/22/2022
The Evacuation of Pediatric Oncology Patients to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
03/22/2022 11:05 AM EDT
Ned Price, Department Spokesperson
Our partnership with, and commitment to, the people of Ukraine is steadfast and enduring. To that end, the Department of State has coordinated with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to provide necessary life-saving and immediate care to four Ukrainian children whose ongoing cancer treatment was disrupted by President Putin’s war of choice. The Department supported airlift of these pediatric oncology patients and some of their immediate family members from Poland to Memphis International Airport, where they were met and transported to St. Jude. There, the patients will be able to safely resume critical cancer therapy disrupted by the Kremlin’s aggression. They will receive the specialized care they desperately need, and their family members will be afforded sustenance, security, and support from St. Jude.
Children are among the most vulnerable in a crisis, and these pediatric oncology patients need urgent and highly specialized medical care. We are proud to stand with European partners who are also treating children whose life-saving care in Ukraine has been made impossible by Putin’s war. We recognize, however, that the children transported represent a small proportion of the thousands of patients whose cancer treatment has been interrupted and, who, even amid a pandemic and with compromised immune systems, were forced to flee their homes. That is why, together with our allies and partners, we will continue to support our Ukrainian partners as we seek to save lives and bring this needless war to a close.
Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Call with French, German, Italian, and UK Counterparts
03/22/2022
Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Call with French, German, Italian, and UK Counterparts
03/22/2022 12:09 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 Political Director Tjorven Bellmann, Italian MFA Secretary General Ettore Sequi, and UK Minister of State for Europe and North America James Cleverly. Deputy Secretary Sherman condemned President Putin’s increasingly brutal tactics that continue to kill civilians in this unjustified and unprovoked war of choice. The participants discussed the importance of providing further military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. They also discussed additional economic measures to hold the Russian Federation and Belarus accountable. All participants agreed to continue to work to isolate the Russian Federation on the international stage given its flagrant violation of international law and principles.
Secretary Blinken’s Call with Polish Foreign Minister Rau
03/22/2022
Secretary Blinken’s Call with Polish Foreign Minister Rau
03/22/2022 03:30 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Rau discussed continued international efforts to support Ukraine and to respond to the devastating humanitarian crisis caused by Putin’s premeditated, unjustified, and unprovoked war. They also discussed the March 24 Extraordinary NATO Summit and President Biden’s upcoming visit to Poland.
Secretary Blinken’s Call with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg
03/22/2022
Secretary Blinken’s Call with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg
03/22/2022 04:10 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg about ongoing efforts to fortify NATO’s Eastern Flank and preparations for the March 24 Extraordinary NATO Summit. The Secretary reaffirmed the need for a strong and united Transatlantic response to the Russian government’s war against Ukraine and welcomed ongoing work to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defense. Secretary Blinken reiterated the United States’ steadfast commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of President Putin’s brutal war of choice. They also discussed the significant humanitarian and security assistance NATO Allies are providing bilaterally to Ukraine.
Aleksey Navalny Unjustly Convicted Again
03/22/2022
Aleksey Navalny Unjustly Convicted Again
03/22/2022 04:32 PM EDT
Ned Price, Department Spokesperson
We condemn Russian authorities’ politically-motivated conviction and sentencing of opposition leader Aleksey Navalny on additional spurious charges to nine more years in a high security prison. This outlandish prison term is a continuation of the Kremlin’s years-long assault on Navalny and on his movement for government transparency and accountability. Of course, Navalny’s true crime in the eyes of the Kremlin is his work as an anti-corruption activist and opposition politician, for which he and his associates have been branded “extremists” by Russian authorities.
Despite his near-fatal poisoning with a nerve agent in 2020 by Russia’s security services and his unjust imprisonment since January 2020, Navalny has continued to speak out against the Kremlin’s suppression of freedom of expression in Russia, and the increasing restrictions on the ability of Russia’s citizens to access information and communicate freely with each other and the outside world. This campaign has intensified as the Kremlin seeks to hide the truth of its brutal war against Ukraine from its own people. More than 15,000 citizens of Russia have been detained for taking part in anti-war protests since February 24. Russia’s communications authority has blocked access to nearly all independent news outlets and several social media platforms, and threatened journalists and average citizens alike with jail time if they dare to discuss the war against Ukraine using anything other than Kremlin-approved euphemisms.
We urge the Russian Federation to immediately and unconditionally release Aleksey Navalny and to end its campaign against his organizations and associates. Navalny’s case is sadly one of many the Kremlin continues to brazenly pursue as it systematically ignores the constitutional rights of the Russian people and its international commitments to respect and ensure human rights and fundamental freedoms. Now more than ever, the people of Russia must be able to hear voices of courage and integrity that tell the truth about the Kremlin’s wrongdoing at home and abroad.
Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Call with European External Action Service Secretary General Sannino
03/22/2022
Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Call with European External Action Service Secretary General Sannino
03/22/2022 06:16 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman spoke today with European External Action Service Secretary General Stefano Sannino to continue close U.S.-EU coordination to support Ukraine and hold the Russian Federation accountable for Putin’s unprovoked war and unconscionable attacks that continue to kill civilians in Ukraine. They also affirmed their continued commitment to strengthen the U.S.-EU partnership and work together to confront global challenges.
Joint Statement on Kosovo
03/23/2022
Joint Statement on Kosovo
03/23/2022 09:18 AM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The following is the text of a joint statement by the Governments of the United States of America and France, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Begin Text:
France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States have intensely engaged with the governments of Kosovo and Serbia in the past months in order to find a pragmatic solution to allow eligible Kosovo citizens to exercise their right to participate in Serbia’s elections on April 3, 2022.
We acknowledge that it is the Kosovo Government’s prerogative to decide whether or not to permit facilitation of voting in another country’s elections. While we appreciate Serbia’s availability to find a solution, it is with great disappointment that we take note of Kosovo Government’s decision to reject a constructive proposal presented by the Quint. With this decision, Kosovo’s Government failed to demonstrate its commitment to the principle of protecting the civil and political rights of all its citizens, including of members of minority groups.
Such an attitude of the Kosovo Government is not in line with our values and principles and will undermine its European aspirations.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we welcomed Kosovo’s alignment with the statements and declarations EU and the Quint members adopted. However, Kosovo is also expected to uphold its core values and responsibility towards regional stability and respect democratic processes, as well as to commit to protection of the rights of members of minority groups.
We expect the Kosovo Government to act in the interests of all its citizens, to work to decrease tensions and to engage constructively in the EU-facilitated Dialogue on normalization of relations with Serbia. This is crucial to achieve progress towards a comprehensive normalization agreement that will ultimately unlock the EU perspective of Kosovo.
We reiterate our strong call upon Kosovo and Serbia to refrain from any actions and rhetoric that increase tensions and may lead to incidents.
War Crimes by Russia’s Forces in Ukraine
03/23/2022
War Crimes by Russia’s Forces in Ukraine
03/23/2022 01:55 PM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
Since launching his unprovoked and unjust war of choice, Russian President Vladimir Putin has unleashed unrelenting violence that has caused death and destruction across Ukraine. We’ve seen numerous credible reports of indiscriminate attacks and attacks deliberately targeting civilians, as well as other atrocities. Russia’s forces have destroyed apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, critical infrastructure, civilian vehicles, shopping centers, and ambulances, leaving thousands of innocent civilians killed or wounded. Many of the sites Russia’s forces have hit have been clearly identifiable as in-use by civilians. This includes the Mariupol maternity hospital, as the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights expressly noted in a March 11 report. It also includes a strike that hit a Mariupol theater, clearly marked with the word “дети” — Russian for “children” — in huge letters visible from the sky. Putin’s forces used these same tactics in Grozny, Chechnya, and Aleppo, Syria, where they intensified their bombardment of cities to break the will of the people. Their attempt to do so in Ukraine has again shocked the world and, as President Zelenskyy has soberly attested, “bathed the people of Ukraine in blood and tears.”
Every day that Russia’s forces continue their brutal attacks, the number of innocent civilians killed and wounded, including women and children, climbs. As of March 22, officials in besieged Mariupol said that more than 2,400 civilians had been killed in that city alone. Not including the Mariupol devastation, the United Nations has officially confirmed more than 2,500 civilian casualties, including dead and wounded, and emphasizes the actual toll is likely higher.
Last week, I echoed President Biden’s statement, based on the countless accounts and images of destruction and suffering we have all seen, that war crimes had been committed by Putin’s forces in Ukraine. I noted then that the deliberate targeting of civilians is a war crime. I emphasized that Department of State and other U.S. government experts were documenting and assessing potential war crimes in Ukraine.
Today, I can announce that, based on information currently available, the U.S. government assesses that members of Russia’s forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine.
Our assessment is based on a careful review of available information from public and intelligence sources. As with any alleged crime, a court of law with jurisdiction over the crime is ultimately responsible for determining criminal guilt in specific cases. The U.S. government will continue to track reports of war crimes and will share information we gather with allies, partners, and international institutions and organizations, as appropriate. We are committed to pursuing accountability using every tool available, including criminal prosecutions.
Targeting Elites of the Russian Federation
03/24/2022
Targeting Elites of the Russian Federation
03/24/2022 09:55 AM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
Today, the Department of State and the Department of the Treasury have taken additional sweeping actions as part of our response, together with our allies and partners, to the Russian Federation’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified war against Ukraine. We are steadfast in our commitment to ensuring Russia pays a severe economic and diplomatic price for its further invasion of Ukraine.
The Department of State is targeting elites close to Putin, along with their property, holdings, and family members. Today, the Department has designated:
Dmitry Vladimirovich Gusev, Mikhail Lvovich Kuchment, Anatoly Alexandrovich Bravverman, Ilya Borisovich Brodskiy, Aleksey Leonidovich Fisun, Dmitry Vladimirovich Khotimskiy, Sergey Vladimirovich Khotimskiy, Mikhail Vasilyevich Klyukin, Mikhal Olegovich Avtukhov, Albert Alexandrovich Boris, Dmitry Vladimirovich Beryshnikov, Elena Alexandrovna Cherstvova, Sergey Nikolaevich Bondarovich, Oleg Alexandrovich Mashtalyar, Alexey Valeryevich Panferov, Irina Nikoalyevna Kashina, and Joel Raymon Lautier
These individuals are each being designated for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of PJSC Sovcombank, pursuant to section 1(a)(iii)(C) of E.O. 14024.
OOO Volga Group
OOO Volga Group is being designated for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy, pursuant to Section 1(a)(i) of E.O. 14024.
Gennady Nikolayevich Timchenko
Gennady Nikolayevich Timchenko is being designated for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of OOO Volga Group, pursuant to section 1(a)(iii)(C) of E.O. 14024.
OOO Transoil
OOO Transoil is being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Gennady Nikolayevich Timchenko, pursuant to section 1(a)(vii) of E.O. 14024.
Ksenia Gennadevna Frank
Ksenia Gennadevna Frank is being designated for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of OOO Transoil, pursuant to section 1(a)(iii)(C) of E.O. 14024.
Gleb Sergeevich Frank
Gleb Sergeevich Frank is being designated for being the spouse of Ksenia Gennadevna Frank, pursuant to Section 1(a)(v) of E.O. 14024.
Elena Petrovna Timchenko and Natalya Browning
Elena Petrovna Timchenko and Natalya Browning are each being designated for being a spouse or adult child of Gennady Nikolayevich Timchenko, pursuant to Section 1(a)(v) of E.O. 14024.
The Yacht Lena
The Yacht Lena is property in which Gennady Nikolayevich Timchenko has an interest and is therefore blocked property.
SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) will add the individuals, entities, and property above to the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons. As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the individuals and entities above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to 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.
Sanctioning Additional Members of Russia’s Duma, Russian Elites, Bank Board Members, and Defense Entities
03/24/2022
Sanctioning Additional Members of Russia’s Duma, Russian Elites, Bank Board Members, and Defense Entities
03/24/2022 10:01 AM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
President Putin’s war continues to inflict horror and widespread suffering on the people of Ukraine. At the same time, in Russia, the State Duma continues to use its legislative power to target domestic dissenters and political opponents, disrupt the free flow of information, and restrict the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the citizens of Russia. The United States today is designating 328 members of the Russian State Duma, in addition to the 12 members designated on March 11. These members supported the Kremlin’s violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, including through treaties recognizing the self-proclaimed independence of Russian-proxy controlled areas of eastern Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR).
The United States is also designating the Russian State Duma in its entirety, as well as Herman Gref, the head of Sberbank and a close ally of Putin. Today’s actions are taken pursuant to Executive Order 14024, which authorizes sanctions against Russia for its harmful foreign activities. These actions complement the ongoing efforts of our allies and partners to hold to account enablers of this unconscionable war of choice against Ukraine and its people.
As part of this action, we are also targeting multiple Russian elites to include their properties and family members. Notably, this will include 17 members of the board of PJSC Sovcombank, a designated entity. These executives join the growing list of individuals associated with blocked Russian financial institutions that now also find themselves subject to U.S. sanctions. Additionally, OOO Volga Group is being re-designated for having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy. As a result, Gennady Nikolayevich Timchenko, the owner of OOO Volga Group, will also be re-designated along with OOO Transoil, which Timchenko owns. Timchenko’s wife, Elena Petrovna Timchenko, and daughter, Natalya Browning, will now also be designated along with Ksenia Gennadevna Frank, a board member of OOO Transoil and her spouse Gleb Sergeevich Frank.
Additionally, the United States is taking action to impose additional severe costs on Russia’s defense establishment. This includes designating multiple defense-related entities and one associated individual. An important component of today’s action is designating Russian defense companies that are part of Russia’s defense-industrial base and that produce weapons that have been used in Russia’s war of aggression. By cutting off dozens of Russian defense companies from the U.S. financial system, today’s action will have a deep and long-lasting effect on Russia’s defense-industrial base. We are targeting, and will continue to target, the suppliers of Russia’s war effort and, in turn, their supply chain.
With our partners and allies, the United States aims to strike the heart of Russia’s ability to engage in warfare and carry out aggression against other countries, including Ukraine. We will continue to impose costs until Putin ends this unprovoked war against Ukraine. We call on those closest to Putin to cease and publicly condemn this cold-blooded war, which has caused the unconscionable death of hundreds of civilians, including children, and the largest humanitarian catastrophe in Europe since the Second World War.
At the same time, we continue to support Ukraine, including through an additional $800 million in security assistance, bringing the total U.S. security assistance committed to Ukraine to $1 billion in the past two weeks and more than $2 billion since last March. The United States is the largest single country donor of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. We stand with the brave people of Ukraine who are demonstrating incredible courage and fierce determination in defending their country against the Kremlin’s aggression.
For more information on today’s action, please see the Department of State Fact Sheet and the Department of the Treasury’s press release .
Secretary Blinken’s Travel to Israel, the West Bank, Morocco, and Algeria
03/24/2022
Secretary Blinken’s Travel to Israel, the West Bank, Morocco, and Algeria
03/24/2022 11:17 AM EDT
Ned Price, Department Spokesperson
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Israel, the West Bank, Morocco, and Algeria March 26-30 to consult with partners on a range of regional and global priorities, including the Russian government’s war on Ukraine, Iran’s destabilizing activities, the Abraham Accords and normalization agreements with Israel, Israeli-Palestinian relations, and preserving the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, among other topics.
The Secretary will start his trip in Israel and the West Bank. There, he will meet with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Foreign Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The Secretary will underscore the unwavering U.S. commitment to Israel’s security, engage on Israeli-Palestinian issues, and discuss regional and global challenges with his counterparts in the Israeli government. The Secretary will also meet with President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah as well as with representatives of Palestinian civil society. In these meetings, the Secretary will emphasize the importance of strengthening U.S.-Palestinian relations, and advancing freedom, security and prosperity for the Palestinian people.
In Morocco, he will meet with Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and other senior government officials to exchange views on regional issues and bilateral cooperation, as well as advancing human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Secretary will also meet with exceptional Moroccan alumnae of U.S.-sponsored exchange programs.
While in Rabat, the Secretary will also meet Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss regional security and international developments.
The Secretary will then travel to Algiers, Algeria for meetings with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra to discuss regional security and stability, commercial cooperation, advancing human rights and fundamental freedoms, and other areas of mutual concern. The Secretary will also officially inaugurate the United States as the Country of Honor at the Algiers International Trade Fair, the largest trade show of its kind in Africa. He will meet with U.S. business representatives in Algeria to discuss deepening economic ties and promoting U.S.-Algeria trade and investment.
During the course of his trip, the Secretary will emphasize to all of the foreign leaders he meets that the United States stands in solidarity with the government and people of Ukraine in the face of the Kremlin’s aggression. We will continue to work closely with our allies and partners to impose further costs on Putin and his enablers if Putin does not change course.
New Sanctions Under the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA)
03/24/2022
New Sanctions Under the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA)
03/24/2022 06:11 PM EDT
Ned Price, Department Spokesperson
The United States today announced sanctions on five entities and individuals located in Russia and the DPRK and one entity in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for proliferation activities under the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA). As part of this action, we imposed sanctions against the Russian entities Ardis Group of Companies LLC (Ardis Group); PFK Profpodshipnik; LLC, and Russian individual Igor Aleksandrovich Michurin; as well as DPRK entity Second Academy of Natural Science Foreign Affairs Bureau (SANS FAB); and DPRK individual Ri Sung Chol (aka Ri Su’ng-ch’o’l) for transferring sensitive items to North Korea’s missile program. These measures are part of our ongoing efforts to impede the DPRK’s ability to advance its missile program and they highlight the negative role Russia plays on the world stage as a proliferator to programs of concern.
We also are imposing sanctions against the PRC entity Zhengzhou Nanbei Instrument Equipment Co. Ltd for supplying Syria with equipment controlled by the Australia Group chemical and biological weapons nonproliferation regime. The ongoing imposition of INKSNA sanctions against PRC entities calls attention to the role of PRC entities in proliferation and shortcomings in the PRC’s implementation of export controls and its nonproliferation track record.
These determinations underscore the continuing need for all countries to remain vigilant to efforts by North Korea and Syria to advance their proliferation programs of concern. We will continue to work to impede these programs and use our sanctions authorities to spotlight the foreign suppliers, such as these entities in the PRC and Russia that provide sensitive materials and technology to the DPRK and Syria. The sanctions announced today will be in effect for two years and include restrictions on U.S. government procurement, U.S. government assistance, and exports.
On the Passing of Secretary Madeleine Albright
03/25/2022
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FROM THE DESK OF
Secretary Antony J. Blinken
U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE
Note to Readers: You are receiving this email because you subscribed to updates about related topics from the Department of State. This is the third edition of a new email called "From the Secretary's Desk" that features updates from Secretary Blinken on critical issues in foreign affairs. You can sign up to receive this email regularly.
Like many of you, I was deeply saddened by the passing of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. She lived an extraordinary life – fleeing the Nazis in Czechoslovakia as a child, becoming the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and blazing a trail as the first woman to serve as Secretary of State. Secretary Albright believed passionately that every person everywhere deserved to live in freedom; that it was worth defending and fighting for. And she poured a great deal of energy into mentoring the next generation of diplomats. There are people across the Department of State, students she mentored at universities, and colleagues and friends across the globe, who benefited from working with her and from her encouragement, and I know many of you are reflecting on her legacy today.
I received the news while I was traveling with the President to NATO – an institution Secretary Albright revered and made stronger.
It was important to me to share some thoughts on Secretary Albright’s remarkable contributions and what she meant to all of us, here at the State Department and worldwide.
Madeleine Albright was a brilliant diplomat, a visionary leader, a courageous trailblazer, a dedicated mentor, and a great and good person who loved the United States deeply and devoted her life to serving it. She was also a wonderful friend to many, including me. I’ll miss her very much.
Having arrived here as a refugee at age 11, she never forgot the generosity that America extended to her family when they needed it most. Having seen America at its best, she pushed relentlessly for us to live up to our role as a moral beacon and defender of freedom. And having experienced the horrors of war firsthand – fleeing Czechoslovakia after the Nazis invaded, then hiding in shelters as German bombs fell on London – she believed that the United States must respond forcefully to dictators and tyrants. She created the Community of Democracies, a coalition of countries that defends democratic values around the world. And thanks in no small part to her, Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic joined NATO, and the United States defended ethnic Albanians in Kosovo against Serbian aggression. Today, there’s a square and a street in Kosovo named for Madeleine, and a statue of her stands in the capital.
When she was nominated to be Secretary of State, some openly questioned whether a woman could go toe-to-toe with world leaders. Madeleine quickly quashed those misguided doubts. There was simply no doubt that, in any room, she was as tough as anyone and often tougher. That said, it wasn’t always easy. She described walking into her first meeting of the UN Security Council as the U.S. ambassador: “15 seats and 14 men, all looking at me.” But when she saw the plaque at her seat that read THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, her nerves vanished: “I thought, if I do not speak today, the voice of the United States will not be heard. When I finally did speak, it was the first time that I represented the country of my naturalization, the place where I belonged.”
Madeleine mentored a generation of diplomats and national security experts. I’m one of many who benefited from her wisdom and encouragement. And in her post-State career, she dedicated herself to teaching, continuing to invest in our future diplomats and leaders.
After leaving the State Department, when asked if she was relieved not to be dealing with crises around the world, she’d say simply, “I miss it every day.” She loved this country. She loved the Department of State. And we loved her back.
To our very first Madam Secretary – thank you.
I’m looking forward to staying connected in the months to come. Share what Secretary Albright meant to you by writing to me and my team at EmailTeam@State.gov.
Sincerely,
Secretary Antony J. Blinken
Find all my speeches, remarks, and other press statements on State.gov. You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram to learn more about my work. I’m also on Spotify, where I'm creating playlists of my favorite music from around the world.
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This email was adapted from Secretary Blinken’s March 23 press statement (transcript/video) on the passing of Secretary Madeleine Albright.
Rewards for Justice – Reward Offer for Information on Russian FSB Officers Conducting Malicious Activity Against U.S. Critical Infrastructure Between 2012-2017
03/25/2022
Rewards for Justice – Reward Offer for Information on Russian FSB Officers Conducting Malicious Activity Against U.S. Critical Infrastructure Between 2012-2017
03/25/2022 10:39 AM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program is now offering a reward for information on Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officers Pavel Aleksandrovich Akulov, Mikhail Mikhailovich Gavrilov, and Marat Valeryevich Tyukov for their alleged involvement in computer intrusions, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and damage to the property of an energy facility offenses.
Today’s announcement marks the first time that RFJ has named any foreign government security personnel under its critical infrastructure reward offer.
RFJ, which is administered by the Diplomatic Security Service, is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of Akulov, Gavrilov, Tyukov, or any other person who, while acting at the direction or under the control of a foreign government, aids or abets a violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which may include participation in malicious cyber activities against U.S. critical infrastructure.
These officers were members of an FSB component known as Center 16 and worked at a specific operational group known as Military Unit 71330, known by cybersecurity researchers as “Dragonfly,” “Energetic Bear,” and “Crouching Yeti.”
These FSB officers conspired to commit computer intrusions, including “supply chain attacks,” in furtherance of the Russian government’s efforts to maintain surreptitious, unauthorized, and persistent access to the computer networks of companies and other entities in the international energy sector, including oil and gas firms, nuclear power plants, and other utility and electrical grid companies. Specifically, the conspirators targeted the software and hardware that controls equipment in power generation facilities, known as industrial control systems or supervisory control and data acquisition systems. Access to such systems would have provided the Russian government the ability to, among other things, disrupt and damage such computer systems at a future date of its choosing..
In total, the defendants and the co-conspirators targeted more than 500 U.S. and foreign energy-sector companies in 135 other countries. In just one phase of their hacking campaign, the conspirators installed malware on more than 17,000 unique devices worldwide.
More information about this reward offer is located on the Rewards for Justice website at https://rewardsforjustice.net/english/malicious_cyber_activity.html . We encourage anyone with information on the malicious cyberactivity of Pavel Aleksandrovich Akulov, Mikhail Mikhailovich Gavrilov, and Marat Valeryevich Tyukov to contact Rewards for Justice via the Tor-based tips-reporting channel at: he5dybnt7sr6cm32xt77pazmtm65flqy6irivtflruqfc5ep7eiodiad.onion (Tor browser required).
Since its inception in 1984, the program has paid in excess of $200 million to more than 100 people across the globe who provided actionable information that helped prevent terrorism, bring terrorist leaders to justice, and resolve threats to U.S. national security. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/RFJ_USA .
Rewards for Justice – Reward Offer for Information on Russian Government Cyber Actor for Conducting Malicious Activity Against U.S. Critical Infrastructure in 2017 and 2018
03/25/2022
Rewards for Justice – Reward Offer for Information on Russian Government Cyber Actor for Conducting Malicious Activity Against U.S. Critical Infrastructure in 2017 and 2018
03/25/2022 10:35 AM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program is offering a reward for information on Russia-based hacker Evgeny Viktorovich Gladkikh.
Today’s announcement marks the first time that RFJ has listed a specific cyber actor under its critical infrastructure reward offer.
RFJ, which is administered by the Diplomatic Security Service, is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of Gladkikh or any other person who, while acting at the direction or under the control of a foreign government, aids or abets a violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which may include participation in malicious cyber activities against U.S. critical infrastructure.
Between May and September 2017, Gladkikh, a computer programmer employed by a leading research organization of the Russian Ministry of Defense, and co-conspirators hacked the systems of a refinery located outside the United States and installed malware designed to prevent the refinery’s safety systems from functioning (i.e., by causing the industrial control system to operate in an unsafe manner while maintaining the appearance that it was operating normally). Between February and July 2018, the conspirators researched similar refineries in the United States, which were owned by a U.S. company, and unsuccessfully attempted to hack the U.S. company’s computer systems.
Gladkikh conducted these malicious offensive cyber operations as an employee of the Russian Ministry of Defense’s Central Scientific Research Institute of Chemistry and Mechanics (a.k.a. “TsNIIKhM”), in its Applied Development Center, with other co-conspirators.
More information about this reward offer is located on the Rewards for Justice website at https://rewardsforjustice.net/english/malicious_cyber_activity.html . We encourage anyone with information on Evgeny Viktorovich Gladkikh’s malicious cyberactivity to contact Rewards for Justice via the Tor-based tips-reporting channel at: he5dybnt7sr6cm32xt77pazmtm65flqy6irivtflruqfc5ep7eiodiad.onion (Tor browser required).
Since RFJ’s inception in 1984, the program has paid in excess of $200 million to more than 100 people across the globe who provided actionable information that helped prevent terrorism, bring terrorist leaders to justice, and resolve threats to U.S. national security. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/RFJ_USA .
G7 Foreign Ministers’ Statement on the DPRK’s Launch of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
03/25/2022
G7 Foreign Ministers’ Statement on the DPRK’s Launch of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
03/25/2022 12:36 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The text of the following statement was released by the G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union.
Begin Text:
We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union strongly condemn the continued testing of ballistic missiles by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), including the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) launch conducted on March 24, 2022.
Since the beginning of 2022, the DPRK has conducted an unprecedented series of missile tests which build on ballistic missile tests conducted in 2021, including launches of new so-called hypersonic missiles, and has claimed a submarine-launched ballistic missile test. These tests demonstrate the DPRK’s continued efforts to expand and further develop its ballistic missile capabilities. We deeply regret that the DPRK, with the most recent launches, has also abandoned its self-declared moratorium on ICBM launches. We strongly condemn these acts which are in blatant violation of the DPRK’s obligations under numerous UN Security Council resolutions including resolution 2397 (2017). These reckless actions threaten regional and international peace and security, pose a dangerous and unpredictable risk to international civil aviation and maritime navigation in the region, and demand a united response by the international community, including by further measures to be taken by the UN Security Council.
We strongly urge the DPRK to fully comply with all legal obligations arising from the relevant Security Council resolutions. We call on the DPRK to accept the repeated offers of dialogue put forward by all parties concerned, including the United States, the Republic of Korea and Japan. We, the G7 foreign ministers and the High Representative of the European Union, also call on the DPRK to abandon its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner.
We are clear that the dire humanitarian situation in the DPRK is the result of the DPRK’s diversion of the DPRK’s resources into weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs rather than into the welfare of its people.
We call on all States to fully and effectively implement all restrictive measures relating to the DPRK imposed by the UN Security Council and to address the risk of weapons of mass destruction proliferation from the DPRK as an urgent priority. We note with concern the report by the Panel of Experts established in pursuant to resolution 1874 (2009) that illicit ship-to-ship transfers continue to take place. We remain ready to assist in and strengthen capacities for effective sanctions implementation. In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, we commend the work of the 1718 Committee, which has swiftly approved all Covid-19 related sanctions exemption requests for humanitarian assistance for the DPRK.
The G7 are committed to working with all relevant partners towards the goal of peace on the Korean Peninsula and to upholding the rules-based international order.
End Text
Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Meeting with Italian MFA Secretary General Ettore Sequi
03/25/2022
Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Meeting with Italian MFA Secretary General Ettore Sequi
03/25/2022 01:33 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman met today with Italian MFA Secretary General Ettore Sequi in Washington, D.C. They discussed shared efforts to assist Ukraine in the face of Moscow’s unprovoked and unjustified war, to deliver humanitarian assistance to those fleeing Russia’s aggression, and to press the Kremlin to end its brutal attacks. They affirmed their two countries’ enduring support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and commitment to holding Putin and his enablers accountable for his war of choice. Deputy Secretary Sherman and Secretary General Sequi also discussed energy diversification, green power generation, and ways to support the democratic aspirations of the Libyan people.
Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie D. Jenkins Travels to Vienna for Key Conference on the Protection of Nuclear Material
03/25/2022
Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie D. Jenkins Travels to Vienna for Key Conference on the Protection of Nuclear Material
03/25/2022 03:20 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie D. Jenkins will lead the U.S. delegation to the first ever Review Conference of the Parties to the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, where she will deliver the national statement. The conference will be hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna from March 28 to April 1.
The Convention and its Amendment – known as the A/CPPNM – greatly strengthens international peace and security. It does so by providing an international framework for the physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities used for peaceful purposes. It also criminalizes the theft or sabotage of such material and facilities and enhances international cooperation and information sharing among States Parties. Moreover, when countries implement the A/CPPNM, the nuclear security measures they put in place can enhance public confidence in the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology that are so critical to reaching sustainable development goals.
Today, 164 countries are party to the Convention and 129 to the Amendment, with Brazil recently becoming the 129th. This conference will give all participating countries the opportunity to exchange information on best practices, challenges to implementation, and lessons learned, and to continue momentum toward universalization of the treaty. Nuclear security is essential to the world’s collective security, and it is vital that all States join the United States and others from all regions of the world as parties to the A/CPPNM. At the conference, the United States and its partners will work to gain support for a robust and regular review process of the A/CPPNM and a subsequent review conference.
Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin’s Meeting with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Kuleba and Defense Minister Reznikov
03/26/2022
Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin’s Meeting with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Kuleba and Defense Minister Reznikov
03/26/2022 08:36 AM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Ukrainian Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov in Warsaw, Poland, on the margins of President Biden’s trip to Europe. The Secretaries and Ministers discussed outcomes of the March 24 extraordinary NATO Summit in Brussels, and the United States’ unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of the Russian Federation’s increasingly brutal assault on Ukrainian cities and civilian population. Both Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin pledged continued support to meet Ukraine’s humanitarian, security, and economic needs as President Putin’s full-scale invasion enters its second month.
$100 Million in New U.S. Civilian Security Assistance for Ukraine
03/26/2022
$100 Million in New U.S. Civilian Security Assistance for Ukraine
03/26/2022 03:45 PM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
The United States intends to provide an additional $100 million in civilian security assistance to enhance the capacity of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs to provide essential border security, sustain civil law enforcement functions, and safeguard critical governmental infrastructure in the face of President Putin’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack.
The increased funding will continue a steady flow of personal protection equipment, field gear, tactical equipment, medical supplies, armored vehicles, and communication equipment for the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service and the National Police of Ukraine. With the U.S. government’s vital assistance, Ukrainian law enforcement officers are playing a key role in rescuing victims of the Russian government’s brutal assault, leading and protecting convoys of those displaced by attacks, and providing security to civilian areas torn apart by ruthless and devastating bombing.
The United States continues to stand with the community of nations backing the people and government of Ukraine as they defend their democracy and country. We continue to urge Putin to end the violence, reign in his forces, including those who have committed war crimes, and choose the path of peace and diplomacy. We are committed to pursuing accountability for war crimes and other atrocities using every tool available, including criminal prosecutions.
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Unsplash/Josh Olalde.
