The below is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert:‎

Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke on the phone with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko today to discuss Russian aggression against Ukraine in the Black Sea near the Kerch Strait. Secretary Pompeo reiterated strong U.S. support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, extending to its territorial waters. President Poroshenko expressed gratitude for U.S. statements of support and underscored the importance of Western nations remaining united in the face of Russian aggression. Secretary Pompeo agreed and expressed appreciation for Ukrainian steps to de-escalate the situation with Russia.

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The below is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert:‎

Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met today with Kosovo President Hashim Thaci. The Secretary reaffirmed steadfast U.S. support for a sovereign, independent Kosovo, fully integrated into the international community. The Secretary congratulated Thaci and all of Kosovo’s citizens on the great strides they have made in the decade since independence and discussed the importance of enshrining rule of law and fostering robust economic growth to ensure Kosovo’s future success.

The Secretary encouraged Kosovo to seize this unique window of opportunity to reach a historic comprehensive normalization deal with Serbia under the EU-facilitated Dialogue process. He urged Kosovo authorities to rescind the tariffs placed on imports from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to work with Serbia to avoid provocations and deescalate tensions. Normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia is the only way to clear the path to both countries’ future integration into the Western community of nations. The United States is ready to help and support the parties to reach a solution that is durable, implementable, and increases stability.

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The United States expresses its deep concern over the incident in the Black Sea that occurred November 25 as Ukrainian vessels attempted to transit through the Kerch Strait. Reports that Russian vessels rammed and fired on the Ukrainian ships, injuring Ukrainian crewmen, before seizing three vessels, represent a dangerous escalation and a violation of international law.

The United States condemns this aggressive Russian action. We call on Russia to return to Ukraine its vessels and detained crew members, and to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters.

We call on both parties to exercise restraint and abide by their international obligations and commitments. We urge Presidents Poroshenko and Putin to engage directly to resolve this situation. In that regard, we reiterate our support for the Normandy Four format.

The United States supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters, as well as the right of its vessels to traverse international waters. As stated in our Crimea Declaration, the United States rejects Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea.

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In advance of World AIDS Day 2018, Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will deliver keynote remarks at the PEPFAR Faith Communities and HIV Technical Summit at the Department of State’s Loy Henderson Room at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 27, 2018.

The Secretary will announce the latest lifesaving results achieved under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), including additional progress that is being made under the PEPFAR Strategy for Accelerating HIV/AIDS Epidemic Control (2017-2020).

The event is open to the press. Pre-set time for cameras is 8:15 a.m. from the 23rd Street entrance. Final access time for writers and stills is 8:30 a.m. from the 23rd Street entrance.

Media representatives may attend this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) a U.S. government-issued photo media credential (e.g., Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), or (2) an official photo identification card issued by their news organization, or (3) a letter from their employer on official letterhead verifying their current employment as a journalist. Additionally, they must present an official government photo identification card (i.e., U.S. driver’s license or passport).

The event will be streamed live on www.state.gov.

For further information, please contact the Office of Press Relations at (202) 647-2492 or PAPressDuty@state.gov.

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Assistant Secretary Denise Natali will travel to Tampa, Florida November 25-27, 2018.

In Tampa, Assistant Secretary Natali will meet with senior military leaders and planners from CENTCOM, SOCOM, and SOCCENT. During her trip, she will discuss ways to enhance CSO-military collaboration, to include co-deployments and analytical exchanges. She will also participate in roundtable discussions on stabilization and special operations.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.