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Mattis condemns Russia for 'brazen' violation of treaty with Ukraine Mattis condemns Russia for 'brazen' violation of treaty with Ukraine
(about 1 hour later)
The US defense secretary, Jim Mattis, on Saturday blasted Moscow for the “brazen” violation of a treaty with Kiev and the seizure of three Ukrainian vessels. The US defense secretary, Jim Mattis, has blasted Russia for the “brazen” violation of a treaty with Kiev and the seizure of three Ukrainian vessels, for trying to “muck around” with the US midterm elections, and for violating a nuclear arms treaty.
Speaking of a 2003 agreement governing the Kerch Strait between the Azov sea and Black sea, Mattis said Moscow had shown “brazen contempt and dismissal” for the deal “that allowed both Russian and Ukrainian ships free passage”.
Mattis was speaking at a defense forum in California, a day after Donald Trump went out of his way to dodge the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, citing the capture of the Ukrainian ships.
The defense chief’s remarks represent some of the strongest reaction to date by the US over the incident.
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Last week, the United Nations ambassador, Nikki Haley, accused Russia of “outlaw actions” and an “outrageous violation of sovereign Ukrainian territory”. Mattis was speaking at a defense forum in California, a day after Donald Trump went out of his way to dodge the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, citing the capture of the Ukrainian ships.
Tensions between Ukraine and Russia spiked on 25 November when Russian forces opened fire on and seized three Ukrainian navy vessels, detaining 24 crew members. Speaking of a 2003 agreement governing the Kerch Strait between the Azov sea and Black sea, Mattis said Moscow had shown “brazen contempt and dismissal” for the deal “that allowed both Russian and Ukrainian ships free passage”.
It was the first open confrontation between the rivals since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and pro-Russian separatists in the east entered into conflict with Ukrainian forces. His remarks were some of the strongest to date by the US. United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley previously accused Russia of “outlaw actions” and an “outrageous violation of sovereign Ukrainian territory”.
Mattis also blamed Putin for Trump’s decision in October to withdraw from the 1987 intermediate-range nuclear forces treaty (INF). Tensions between Ukraine and Russia spiked on 25 November when Russian forces opened fire on and seized three Ukrainian navy vessels, detaining 24 crew members. It was the first open confrontation since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and pro-Russian separatists in the east entered into conflict with Ukrainian forces.
Russian channel TV Rain reported on Friday that the Ukrainian sailors had been taken to prison facilities in Moscow. At the G20 on Saturday, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Angela Merkel pressed Putin to release the sailors. Putin told them the issue was a matter for the courts, his spokesman said.
Mattis was widely critical of Putin, claiming Russia tried to “muck around” in last month’s midterm elections, as part of its “efforts to try to subvert democratic processes that must be defended”.
The defense secretary also blamed Putin for Trump’s decision in October to withdraw from the 1987 intermediate-range nuclear forces treaty (INF).
“We are dealing with Putin’s duplicitous violation of the INF treaty,” he said, noting that while the US remains in compliance, Russia does not.“We are dealing with Putin’s duplicitous violation of the INF treaty,” he said, noting that while the US remains in compliance, Russia does not.
“We will re-energize our arms control efforts but the onus is on Russia,” he said.“We will re-energize our arms control efforts but the onus is on Russia,” he said.
RussiaRussia
UkraineUkraine
Donald TrumpDonald Trump
Trump administrationTrump administration
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