U.S. President Joe Biden on Feb. 26 called Russia out for illegally invading Crimea and reaffirmed the United States’ support of Ukraine in the conflict that has killed over 13,000 people here.
The White House timed the statement to the 7th anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Crimea.
“Seven years ago today, Russia violated international law, the norms by which modern countries engage one another, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbor Ukraine when it invaded Crimea,” Biden stated.
“The United States continues to stand with Ukraine and its allies and partners today, as it has from the beginning of this conflict. On this somber anniversary, we reaffirm a simple truth: Crimea is Ukraine.”
Ukraine heavily depends on U.S. military aid in Russia’s war in the Donbas.
The new U.S. administration has promised to be tough on Russia. In his Feb. 4 speech to the U.S. State Department, Biden said he told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call that “the days of the United States rolling over in the face of Russian aggressive actions… are over.”
On the same day, Secretary of State Antony Blinken brought up Russia’s war in Ukraine in his phone call with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, a day after issuing a statement Crimea is Ukraine.
The Feb. 26 statement is Biden’s most explicit public affirmation of support for Ukraine to date.
“The United States does not and will never recognize Russia’s purported annexation of the peninsula, and we will stand with Ukraine against Russia’s aggressive acts,” Biden stated.
“We will continue to work to hold Russia accountable for its abuses and aggression in Ukraine. We will also continue to honor the courage and hope of the Revolution of Dignity, in which the Ukrainian people faced down sniper fire and enforcers in riot gear on the Maidan and demanded a new beginning for their country.”
“The United States still believes in the promise of Ukraine and we support all those working towards a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous future for their country.”
Biden and President Volodymyr Zelensky have yet to speak on the phone. Ukrainian media speculated whether the U.S. has set conditions that Zelensky has to meet before he’s granted his phone call. Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff, told the Kyiv Post that these reports are groundless.
By issuing sanctions against Kremlin-allied lawmakers and their companies, as well as Chinese investors of aircraft engine manufacturer Motor Sich, Ukrainian officials may be trying to strike a closer relationship with Washington, experts believe.
When he was vice president, Bidenmserved as former U.S. President Barack Obama’s point man on Ukraine, visiting six times while in office.
Biden’s son Hunter previously served on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma, owned by fugitive former ecology minister Mykola Zlochevsky. Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, along with Ukrainian and American officials and businesspeople, spread a false allegation that Biden forced the firing of Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin to protect his son from the investigation.
