Kerry Talks With Russian Foreign Minister: Lavrov reaffirmed respect of the territorial integrity of Ukraine"

 

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday that Washington would be carefully monitoring a commitment by Moscow to respect Ukraine's territorial sovereignty.


The secretary's morning phone call came as an armed takeover of the government offices in the pro-Russian Crimea region of Ukraine and major military exercises by Russian forces near the Ukrainian border stoked concerns that Moscow might intervene in the country.

Mr. Kerry said Mr. Lavrov reaffirmed an earlier commitment by Russian President Vladimir Putin to "respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine" and assured the U.S. that the military exercises aren't related to recent events in former Soviet republic.

They discussed the events in Crimea, which have fueled worries that pro-Russian separatists will challenge the provisional government in Kiev and further destabilize the fragile country.

In addition to the U.S. cautioning Moscow, officials in Washington expressed concern that possible missteps by the new government in Kiev could provoke the Russians.

"We believe that everybody now needs to step back and avoid any kind of provocations," Mr. Kerry said. "We are also making the same point about reducing tensions in Crimea to the Ukrainians. And it is very important that the process continue in a thoughtful and respectful way."

Earlier Thursday, Ukraine's parliament approved an interim government to replace pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted from Kiev over the weekend.

"I think they understand that to keep faith with their affirmation about protecting territorial integrity, you can't be encouraging the separatist movement or some other effort," Mr. Kerry said.
Mr. Kerry said, however, Washington is monitoring the situation to ensure Russian compliance.
"This is not about words, it's about actions and we will look in the days ahead to see the confirmation," he said in a joint press conference with visiting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the State Department.

"We will watch very carefully and very hopefully that Russia will join us in the effort to help shore up the economy, hold the country together and provide a way forward," he said.

The secretary also said the fledgling government should put off considering whether the Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the pro-western military alliance cemented in the cold war as a collective defense against the former Soviet Union, until after a more permanent government is elected.

"They would be well served to hold off on some of these other issues until that choice has been made by the people," he said.

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