US sanctions in place until Russia returns control over Crimea to Ukraine

US Ambassador Nikki Haley, UN Security Council. Credits: UKMC

In the heat of speculations about possible changes in US foreign policy on Russia and US President Donald Trump's relationship with Russian President, Vladimir Putin, the keynote speech addressed by the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, at the meeting of the UN Security Council was clear and resounding:

"I must condem the agressive actions of Russia... We do want to better our relation with Russia, however, the dire situation in Eastern Ukraine is one that demands clear and strong condemnation of Russian actions…The United States stands with the people of Ukraine, who have suffered for nearly three years under Russian occupation and military intervention. Until Russia and the separatists it supports respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, this crisis will continue... The United States continues to condem and call for an inmediate end to the Russian occupation of Crimea. Crimea is a part of Ukraine and Crimea related sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns control over the Peninsula to Ukraine... "

Haley's speech was in line with what was announced by President Trump in the sense that the improvement in US Russia relations would depend largely on Russia's attitude. What the Kremlin interpreted and disseminated using its propaganda machinery as an alleged US support and an opportunity to strengthen its interventionist policy in Europe seems to have been just an invitation from the United States to do just the opposite, change its strategy.

Click to watch the video: US Ambassador Nikki Haley remarks at the UN Security Council.