Top US Official: US Has Low Expectations for Russia and Ukraine Talks
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SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland said the United States doesn’t have “high expectations” for upcoming talks between leaders from the U.S. and European Union as well as Ukraine and Russia. But, she added, it’s still important to keep that diplomatic channel open.
Nuland made those remarks during testimony before the bipartisan, bicameral Helsinki Commission, charged with ensuring compliance with the Helsinki Accords governing cooperation among European countries and the United States.
She also reiterated the belief of the U.S. government that mobs in eastern Ukrainian cities over the past two days were coordinated by the Russians.
“The evidence is overwhelming that this was a very carefully orchestrated, well-planned, well-targeted, well-coordinated effort to take over buildings in four cities within the same 24-hour period with identical tactics,” Nuland said.
She also noted some “absolutely wild stories” like those of the mob in Kharkiv, which started taking over the opera house instead of their target, the local interior ministry.
“These were not boys from Kharkiv,” she said.
Rep. Steve Cohen also suggested that Ukrainian opposition leader Vitali Klitschko, a boxing champion, face off against Russian president Vladimir Putin. Nuland jokingly seemed receptive to the idea.
The Helsinki Commission hearing is ongoing.
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