Tillerson says Ukraine is biggest obstacle to normal Russia ties

[DonViejo]

Source: Reuters




#WORLD NEWS DECEMBER 7, 2017 / 5:25 AM / UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO

Francois Murphy, Shadia Nasralla

VIENNA (Reuters) - The United States would “badly” like to lift sanctions against Russia but will not do so until Moscow has pulled its forces out of eastern Ukraine and Crimea, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday, calling that the main obstacle to normal ties.

Tillerson is on a visit to Europe during which he has reassured allies with tougher rhetoric against Moscow than that of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has sought better relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Speaking at a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), also attended by his Russian counterpart, Tillerson said Moscow was to blame for increased violence in eastern Ukraine and that had to stop.

“We’ve made this clear to Russia from the very beginning, that we must address Ukraine,” Tillerson told a news conference with his Austrian counterpart Sebastian Kurz. “It stands as the single most difficult obstacle to us renormalizing the relationship with Russia, which we badly would like to do.”





Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-tillerson/tillerson-says-ukraine-is-biggest-obstacle-to-normal-russia-ties-idUSKBN1E118C?il=0

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[ck4829]

1. GOP Solution: Just let Russia roll over the rest of the country

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

2. ".... Which is why I propose it become the newest Russian province. See? Problem solved." nt

[leftynyc]

3. How is the biggest obstacle NOT

that they interfered with our election and obviously have the degenerate in the oval office by the balls?

[The Mouth]

4. It's none of our business

Anymore than between the Koreas, the two Vietnams.

[EX500rider]

6. Except this isn't between 2 Ukraine's....

.....this is Russia trying to steal eastern Ukraine, the Donbas region.

And the US unfortunately signed a treaty to help guarantee Ukraine's borders when they gave up their nukes they had when the Soviet Union broke up.

[The Mouth]

9. No treaty is worth one taxypayer dollar or drop of blood

As long as there's one homeless American or kid without healthcare we shouldn't be spending a cent outside of our borders.

[LanternWaste]

11. Signed treaties, by their very definition, make it our business.

The one does not deny the other.

Homelessness and poor healthcare in America are not the direct result of treaties, they are the result of tax cuts.

Signed treaties, by their very definition, make it our business.

[Xolodno]

12. False. We signed no treaty to protect Ukraine

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/mar/23/ted-cruz/ted-cruz-wrongly-says-ukraine-gave-nukes-due-ameri/

Nor was it a treaty, that has to be ratified by Congress. It was Memorandum...which is worth...not a whole lot.

Quoting from the article:

"Cruz said that Ukraine agreed to give up the nuclear weapons on its territory because the United States promised to "ensure its territorial integrity." A diplomat with detailed knowledge of the American position noted that the United States went to pains to avoid making a strong guarantee to protect Ukraine’s borders. The formal memorandum of security assurances lacks a promise to ensure that Ukraine’s borders remain unchanged. The United States only promised to respect those borders itself, and to go to the United Nations should another power threaten Ukraine with a nuclear attack.

Russia violated that memorandum, but that is separate from what the United States said it would do.

We rate Cruz’s statement False."

[yurbud]

5. Has anyone ever said this to us about our occupations farther from our shores?

[EX500rider]

7. You'll find the US is in foreign countries with their governments current invitation and approval.

Which Russia lacks in the Ukraine.

[yurbud]

8. so Assad ASKED us to bomb Syria? How about Yemen?

[yurbud]

10. they held a referendum in Crimea to rejoin Russia. If a hostile foreign power backed

a coup in Mexico or Canada, I would think we would have bigger and more open military intervention than whatever Russia is doing.

[Xolodno]

13. We've been invited in numerous times for occupations....but...

Its usually a lot like the Saudi's tried to do with Lebanon, but without the occupation. Strong arm them economically. So their choice is, become crippled economically...or allow a nice little US base or two on your soil.

But sometimes its benevolent...we point out to the corrupt government how much money they will make.

[Dalton Mac]

14. No

The fact that they chose our president is the biggest obstacle!

[yurbud]

15. If they did, we need to ask why before we act on that.