In Kyiv, Mattis says Moscow wants to redraw borders by force
KIEV, Ukraine — On the 26th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from Moscow, U.S. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis accused Russia of menacing Europe and suggested that he favours providing Ukraine with defensive lethal weapons.
Mattis also said the Trump administration will not accept Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region.
After attending a spirted and colorful independence day parade, Mattis met with President Petro Poroshenko and other top government leaders. He is the first Pentagon chief to visit the former Soviet republic since Robert Gates in 2007.
“Have no doubt,” Mattis said at a news conference with Poroshenko. “The United States stands with Ukraine.” He said Washington does not, “and we will not,” accept Russia’s annexation of Crimea, a 2014 action that was followed by Russian military intervention in support of separatists in eastern Ukraine.