KYIV. Sept 14 (Interfax) – U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said the U.S. will continue providing technical and financial assistance to Kyiv as long as Ukraine conducts democratic reforms.
However, that requires the unity of all reformist forces, Nuland said at the 12th annual Yalta European Strategy meeting held in Kyiv on Saturday.
Speaking about the Minsk process and the future of Crimea, Nuland said the sanctions will remain in place until the Minsk agreements are fulfilled and until border control is resumed. She said the U.S. may soften the sanctions, but further breaches of the Minsk agreements will have consequences for Russia. As to Crimea, she said Ukrainian sovereignty should be restored over it.
Nuland reiterated that the U.S. will also continue providing diplomatic assistance. She said the U.S. is not part of the Normandy four or the Minsk process, but is working as an ally of the EU and the most important thing now is to use the moment of silence and fully withdraw heavy weapons. Nuland also said the elections in Donbas should be held in accordance with the Ukrainian legislation and should be monitored by the OSCE.
