U.S. Department of State Weekly Digest Bulletin

 

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U.S. Department of State Weekly Digest Bulletin Εισερχόμενα U.S. Department of State <usstatebpa@public.govdelivery.com> 8:29 π.μ. (πριν από 3 ώρες) προς εγώ Αγγλικά Ελληνικά     Μετάφραση μηνύματος Secretary Blinken’s Travel to Belgium 04/03/2022 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary Blinken’s Travel to Belgium 04/03/2022 10:17 AM EDT Ned Price, Department Spokesperson Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Brussels, Belgium, April 5 to 7, 2022, to attend the NATO Foreign Ministerial. At the Ministerial, the Secretary will have the opportunity to highlight NATO’s essential role in preserving Transatlantic security, including our joint efforts to hold President Putin accountable and promote a swift end to his senseless and destructive war of choice against Ukraine. The Secretary will discuss continued Allied efforts to provide support for Ukraine. The Secretary will also join a G7 ministerial meeting and hold additional discussions with other Allies and partners. Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Dana Bash of CNN’s State of the Union 04/03/2022 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Dana Bash of CNN’s State of the Union 04/03/2022 10:55 AM EDT Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Washington, D.C. QUESTION:  Joining me now is U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.  Thank you so much for joining me this morning.  So I want to start with those horrific images and reports from Bucha.  What is your reaction?  And do you see evidence here of crimes against humanity? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Dana, you can’t help but see these images as a punch to the gut.  And look, we’ve said before Russia’s aggression that we thought it was likely that they would commit atrocities.  Since the aggression, we’ve come out and said that we believe that Russian forces have committed war crimes and we’ve been working to document that, to provide the information that we have to the relevant institutions and organizations that will put all of this together, and there needs to be accountability for it. But I think the most important thing is we can’t become numb to this.  We can’t normalize this.  This is the reality of what’s going on every single day as long as Russia’s brutality against Ukraine continues.  That’s why it needs to come to an end. QUESTION:  And the Ukrainian foreign minister said Russia aims to eliminate as many Ukrainians as they can.  Beyond war crimes, do you see this as genocide? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Look, we will look hard and document everything that we see, put it all together, make sure that the relevant institutions and organizations that are looking at this – including the State Department – have everything they need to assess exactly what took place in Ukraine, who’s responsible, and what it amounts to. QUESTION:  Let’s talk about the punishment here.  The EU is already saying it will impose new, even harsher sanctions over this.  What about the U.S.?  Would the U.S. impose more sanctions, for example, on Russian oil, cracking down on all Russian banks, banning energy payments from the SWIFT banking system? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Dana, we’re doing this every single day.  We’re tightening the existing sanctions.  We’re adding new ones.  We’re doing it in full coordination with Europeans and other partners around the world.  And one of the results is that the Russian economy is reeling.  There are forecasts by most of the major forecasters that its economy is going to contract by 10 percent this year, and that’s in stark contrast to economies like our own, which are growing rapidly.  We’re seeing an exodus of every major company from Russia.  And over the long term, the export controls that we’ve imposed means that they will not have the technology they need to modernize key aspects of their economy and their future. So these sanctions are having a big bite now, they’re going to have a big bite going forward as long as this lasts, and we are every single day making sure that they’re not only tightened, but increased.  We announced additional sanctions just a couple of days ago. QUESTION:  They still have a lifeline, particularly when it comes to their energy sector.  Is that something that the U.S. is considering along with its Western allies? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  We’re in constant conversation with allies and partners about the most effective ways to tighten, to strengthen the sanctions, and at the same time, we’re very focused on making sure that Europe has the energy it needs not only to get through this year and this winter, which it has, but next year as well.  But the other thing, Dana, is this:  If you step back and look at this, this has already been a dramatic strategic setback for Russia and, I would say, a strategic defeat. They had three aims going into this.  One was to subjugate Ukraine to Russia’s will, to take away its sovereignty and independence.  The second was to assert Russian power.  The third was to divide the West and NATO.  On all three fronts, it’s already lost.  Ukraine, its sovereignty and independence, is going to be there a lot longer than Vladimir Putin is going to be on the scene.  The Russian military has dramatically underperformed.  Its economy is reeling.  And the West, NATO, are more united than any time I can remember. QUESTION:  Let me ask you about that military statement that you just made for a minute because the new intelligence that is out there says that they are shifting specifically to the eastern part of Ukraine militarily.  And President Zelenskyy actually said that the Russians are pulling back from Kyiv.  We’ve actually seen that now.  You’ve said it’s what they do, not what they say.  We saw that. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  That’s right. QUESTION:  What does that tell you? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  So we are seeing that.  It’s, I think, too early to say what that actually means because they could be regrouping and restocking and replenishing and then coming back to Kyiv.  It’s also very possible that what we’re seeing is what it seems to be, which is a focus to the East and the South.  But Dana, even there, if that’s what they’re doing, then I think that the Ukrainians have already demonstrated that unless they’re able to move every single Ukrainian out of whatever piece of territory they’re trying to hold, it’s not going to last because the will of the Ukrainian people is clear:  They will not be subjected to a Russian occupation whether that’s in and around Kyiv or whether that’s in the East and the South. But here is the problem:  In the meantime, the terrible death and destruction that you started with is going to continue.  And that’s why it is so urgent that Russia end this war of aggression and we do everything that we can to support the Ukrainians, to put pressure on Russia, to strengthen our own defenses.  All of that is going to strengthen Ukraine’s hand at the negotiating table and hopefully bring this to a quicker end. QUESTION:  There are reports that Soviet-era tanks will be transferred to Ukraine.  Can you tell me about the U.S. role in facilitating that? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Dana, I can’t get into specific weapon systems.  What I can say is this:  First, we have provided, just over the course of this administration, $2.3 billion in security assistance of one kind or another to Ukraine, just $1.6 billion in the last month alone.  That includes many different weapon systems.  And let me give you one example of this:  Between the United States and our allies and partners, for every Russian tank, there are or will soon be in Ukraine more than 10 anti-tank systems for every Russian tank. So across the board, what we’re trying to do is to make sure that Ukrainians have the systems that they need, that they can use, and they can use right away.  And that’s what’s been happening.  It’s been incredibly effective because of the courage and bravery of the Ukrainian forces. QUESTION:  So what you just described sounds like the U.S. facilitating those tanks going in. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  We are working with countries around the world to facilitate the movement of the systems that the Ukrainians can actually use into Ukraine one way or another. QUESTION:  This week Ukraine floated the idea of taking a Switzerland-like position of neutrality in Europe as part of a peace deal with Russia, but only if Western nations provide security guarantees if Ukraine is attacked.  Would the U.S. help provide those security guarantees? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  So Dana, first, all of this is up to the Ukrainians, which is to say that if they negotiate something that meets their needs, that preserves their sovereignty, their independence, we will back it.  And we’re not going to be less Ukrainian than Ukrainians.  We’re not going to be more Ukrainian than Ukrainians.  So first and foremost, it’s up to them, to their elected representatives, to President Zelenskyy. When it comes to the future, we and allies and partners are going to want to make sure that we do everything we can to ensure that this can’t happen again and that Ukraine has the means to defend itself, to deter further Russian aggression.  So we will look at anything that we can do to back up that kind of outcome. QUESTION:  Sounds like that’s a yes because this is coming from the Ukrainians, as you know.  But they — SECRETARY BLINKEN:  No, I’m not going to get – yeah, I’m not going to get ahead of any details of what might come into some kind of agreement.  But we’re going to want to make sure that we do what we can to help Ukraine defend itself going forward, to deter future Russian aggression.  There are many things that could go into that, but I’m not going to get ahead of them. QUESTION:  Before I let you go, the Biden administration announced this week that you will lift a Trump-era pandemic restriction called Title 42, which restricted immigration at the Southern border.  It comes as your administration says there could be up to 18,000 apprehensions of undocumented migrants per day.  Does the administration see an influx of migrants as a problem, and can you guarantee that they will be treated humanely? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, Dana, first, when it comes to Title 42, all along we’ve been following the science.  That’s what this is about.  So when the CDC and others conclude that the science doesn’t warrant that, as is now happening, then we’ll take action. Here’s my focus and the Vice President’s focus as well:  We’re focused on making sure that people throughout our hemisphere have opportunities at home going forward so they’re not faced with this really hard choice of leaving everything behind and trying to come to the United States.  So building that kind of opportunity, creating what one of my colleagues has called a “right to remain,” is our focus. In the nearer term, the focus I have is trying to make sure that transit countries in particular take steps to make sure that it – that folks who might come or try to come to the United States through their countries can’t do that.  So that’s what I’m focused on. QUESTION:  Secretary of State Antony Blinken, thank you so much for your time.  I really appreciate it. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thanks.  Great to be with you. Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Chuck Todd of NBC’s Meet the Press 04/03/2022 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Chuck Todd of NBC’s Meet the Press 04/03/2022 11:14 AM EDT Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Washington, D.C. QUESTION:  And joining me now is the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.  Mr. Secretary, welcome back to Meet the Press. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Good morning, Chuck. QUESTION:  Let me start with the news of the Russians pulling back from Kyiv, focusing, it appears now, on the East where they’ve had a bit more military success.  Are we in a new phase in this war? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, Chuck, we may be.  I think this is evidence that Russia’s original plans to take over the whole country, including Kyiv, have been dealt a devastating setback.  They are regrouping.  They may be focusing on the East.  But let’s keep in mind they still have the ability to wreak massive death and destruction, including in places like Kyiv, with airpower and missiles.  And at the same time, they may be regrouping; they may be recalibrating.  We’re focused on what they’re doing, not what they’re saying.  And if it’s a refocus on the East, there’s still a tremendous amount that’s going to be ahead of us.  As President Biden said recently, this could go on for some time, and the question is how much death and destruction Russia wreaks in the meantime. QUESTION:  Are we going to help Ukraine reinforce sort of now the Central and Western part of the country, reinforce Kyiv so that essentially the Russians don’t even think about coming back? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Chuck, we’re doing that every single day.  Just over the course of this administration we’ve provided more than $2.3 billion in security assistance – in the last month alone, $1.6 billion – the very kinds of things that have made the Ukrainians incredibly effective in dealing with this Russian onslaught, in pushing it back, in setting it back.  And look, what we’ve already seen is a strategic setback and maybe even defeat for Russia. Russia had three goals going into this: to subjugate Ukraine to its will, to deny its sovereignty and its independence; to assert Russian power; and to divide the West, divide the alliance.  And on all three fronts, it’s failed.  Ukraine is now more united.  It’s – a sovereign, independent Ukraine is going to be there a lot longer than Vladimir Putin is on the scene.  Russian power has actually been vastly diminished.  The military has greatly underperformed.  Its economy is reeling.  And of course, NATO, the West, are more united than in any time in recent memory.  So on those grounds alone, we’ve already seen a dramatic setback for Russia. QUESTION:  You have just described a situation – and Richard Engel was telling me that there are people in Ukraine going, hey, we’ve got Putin in as weak of a spot as we’ve had him in a long time.  This is actually not the time to suddenly negotiate a way for him to get out of this.  So – and nobody wants to see more war.  At the same time, nobody – I don’t think a lot of people, including the President of the United States, wants to see Putin remain in power after this.  So can we really end this with giving Putin some sort of gain in the Donbas? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Chuck, the – how this war ends is up to two things.  It’s up to the Ukrainian people and their elected representatives, including President Zelenskyy.  We’ll support whatever they want to do in terms of how this war comes to an end.  And as to Mr. Putin’s future, that’s up to the Russian people. QUESTION:  But do you acknowledge he’s in a weak moment?  I mean, is this a moment – is this a moment that we’re – if he’s – if we – if we let him lie and he wreaks havoc again, are we going to regret not taking advantage of this moment? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Again, it’s up to, in the first instance, Ukrainians when it comes to what’s going on in Ukraine, and Russians when it comes to what’s going on in Russia.  And here’s the thing:  Even though he’s been set back, even though I believe this is already a strategic defeat for Vladimir Putin, the death and destruction that he is wreaking every single day in Ukraine, the images that are on our TVs and on social media every single day are terrible.  And so there’s also a strong interest in bringing those to an end. QUESTION:  I want to ask about the Zelenskyy – potential Zelenskyy-Putin face-to-face in Turkey.  How realistic is that?  And does President Zelenskyy – does he have the ability to negotiate sanctions relief with Putin? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  So how realistic it is, very hard to say.  The Ukrainians have sought a direct engagement with President Putin for President Zelenskyy.  President Putin has rejected that repeatedly.  We’ll see if he goes forward with anything.  But again, our focus is on making sure that we’re doing everything possible to strengthen Ukraine’s hand at the negotiating table, including with a potential meeting between President Zelenskyy and President Putin.  And that’s exactly what we’re doing.  We’ve been supporting Ukraine.  We’ve been imposing extraordinary pressure on Russia.  We’ve been solidifying our own alliance.  All of that goes to strengthening Ukraine’s hand when it comes to any negotiations with Russia. QUESTION:  Again, I want to go back to – what is – can Zelenskyy negotiate sanctions relief at all here or not? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  The entire international community that’s come together to impose those sanctions on Russia will be looking to see what Ukraine is doing and what it wants to do.  And if it concludes that it can bring this war to an end, stop the death and destruction, and continue to assert its independence and its sovereignty, and ultimately that requires the lifting of sanctions, of course we’re going to look at that.  The purpose of the sanctions, Chuck, is not to be there indefinitely.  It’s to change Russia’s conduct.  And if, as a result of negotiations, the sanctions, the pressure, the support for Ukraine, we achieve just that, then at some point the sanctions will go away.  But that is profoundly up to Russia and what it does going forward. QUESTION:  The restrengthening of the ruble – and I understand there’s some market manipulation there to do that – but there clearly is some signs that the ruble is strengthened. Obviously, Europe – there are plenty of European countries that continue to pay Russia for oil and gas.  Is there more that can be done to tighten – to tighten these sanctions again?  Because it looks like he’s found some ways around them. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, Chuck, first, virtually all of the forecasts show Russia’s economy contracting by 10 percent this year.  That is dramatic, especially at a time when other economies, including our own, are rebounding dramatically.  Second, when it comes to the ruble, it’s more than a little manipulation, it’s a lot of manipulation.  People are being prevented from unloading rubles.  That’s artificially propping up the value.  That’s not sustainable.  So I think you’re going to see that change.  We’ve seen the most extraordinary exodus of virtually every leading business from around the world leaving Russia – everything from McDonald’s to Toyota.  And that’s having not just an immediate impact, but a long-term impact. And then the export controls that we’ve imposed on Russia, denying it the technology it needs to modernize industry after industry, that’s going to have an increasing bite.  Having said that, to your point, we’re working every single day with partners and allies around the world to make sure that we’re tightening the sanctions, closing any loopholes, adding new ones. QUESTION:  Whose side is time on here?  If this is a six – if this is going to drag out another six months, can Ukraine’s military hold up?  Can the European alliance hold up?  Can Putin survive economically? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Chuck, when it comes to the fundamentals, which is to say Putin’s objective in subjugating Ukraine to his will, on denying, taking away its sovereignty and independence, time is certainly not on Vladimir Putin’s side because, as I said, a sovereign, independent Ukraine has demonstrated it’s going to be around a lot longer than Vladimir Putin is on the scene.  The real question, though, again, is what happens in the meantime.  If this goes on, how much death, how much destruction is there?  And that is terrible. So we have a strong interest, the Ukrainians have a strong interest, in ending that.  We’re all working toward that.  The way to do that is to give Ukraine the strongest possible hand, to put as much pressure as we possibly can on Russia while we’re strengthening our own defenses.  That’s exactly what we’ve been doing. QUESTION:  Secretary Antony Blinken, appreciate you coming on and sharing the administration’s perspective. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thanks, Chuck.  Good to be with you. Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Dana Bash of CNN’s State of the Union 04/03/2022 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Dana Bash of CNN’s State of the Union 04/03/2022 10:55 AM EDT Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Washington, D.C. QUESTION:  Joining me now is U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.  Thank you so much for joining me this morning.  So I want to start with those horrific images and reports from Bucha.  What is your reaction?  And do you see evidence here of crimes against humanity? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Dana, you can’t help but see these images as a punch to the gut.  And look, we’ve said before Russia’s aggression that we thought it was likely that they would commit atrocities.  Since the aggression, we’ve come out and said that we believe that Russian forces have committed war crimes and we’ve been working to document that, to provide the information that we have to the relevant institutions and organizations that will put all of this together, and there needs to be accountability for it. But I think the most important thing is we can’t become numb to this.  We can’t normalize this.  This is the reality of what’s going on every single day as long as Russia’s brutality against Ukraine continues.  That’s why it needs to come to an end. QUESTION:  And the Ukrainian foreign minister said Russia aims to eliminate as many Ukrainians as they can.  Beyond war crimes, do you see this as genocide? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Look, we will look hard and document everything that we see, put it all together, make sure that the relevant institutions and organizations that are looking at this – including the State Department – have everything they need to assess exactly what took place in Ukraine, who’s responsible, and what it amounts to. QUESTION:  Let’s talk about the punishment here.  The EU is already saying it will impose new, even harsher sanctions over this.  What about the U.S.?  Would the U.S. impose more sanctions, for example, on Russian oil, cracking down on all Russian banks, banning energy payments from the SWIFT banking system? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Dana, we’re doing this every single day.  We’re tightening the existing sanctions.  We’re adding new ones.  We’re doing it in full coordination with Europeans and other partners around the world.  And one of the results is that the Russian economy is reeling.  There are forecasts by most of the major forecasters that its economy is going to contract by 10 percent this year, and that’s in stark contrast to economies like our own, which are growing rapidly.  We’re seeing an exodus of every major company from Russia.  And over the long term, the export controls that we’ve imposed means that they will not have the technology they need to modernize key aspects of their economy and their future. So these sanctions are having a big bite now, they’re going to have a big bite going forward as long as this lasts, and we are every single day making sure that they’re not only tightened, but increased.  We announced additional sanctions just a couple of days ago. QUESTION:  They still have a lifeline, particularly when it comes to their energy sector.  Is that something that the U.S. is considering along with its Western allies? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  We’re in constant conversation with allies and partners about the most effective ways to tighten, to strengthen the sanctions, and at the same time, we’re very focused on making sure that Europe has the energy it needs not only to get through this year and this winter, which it has, but next year as well.  But the other thing, Dana, is this:  If you step back and look at this, this has already been a dramatic strategic setback for Russia and, I would say, a strategic defeat. They had three aims going into this.  One was to subjugate Ukraine to Russia’s will, to take away its sovereignty and independence.  The second was to assert Russian power.  The third was to divide the West and NATO.  On all three fronts, it’s already lost.  Ukraine, its sovereignty and independence, is going to be there a lot longer than Vladimir Putin is going to be on the scene.  The Russian military has dramatically underperformed.  Its economy is reeling.  And the West, NATO, are more united than any time I can remember. QUESTION:  Let me ask you about that military statement that you just made for a minute because the new intelligence that is out there says that they are shifting specifically to the eastern part of Ukraine militarily.  And President Zelenskyy actually said that the Russians are pulling back from Kyiv.  We’ve actually seen that now.  You’ve said it’s what they do, not what they say.  We saw that. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  That’s right. QUESTION:  What does that tell you? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  So we are seeing that.  It’s, I think, too early to say what that actually means because they could be regrouping and restocking and replenishing and then coming back to Kyiv.  It’s also very possible that what we’re seeing is what it seems to be, which is a focus to the East and the South.  But Dana, even there, if that’s what they’re doing, then I think that the Ukrainians have already demonstrated that unless they’re able to move every single Ukrainian out of whatever piece of territory they’re trying to hold, it’s not going to last because the will of the Ukrainian people is clear:  They will not be subjected to a Russian occupation whether that’s in and around Kyiv or whether that’s in the East and the South. But here is the problem:  In the meantime, the terrible death and destruction that you started with is going to continue.  And that’s why it is so urgent that Russia end this war of aggression and we do everything that we can to support the Ukrainians, to put pressure on Russia, to strengthen our own defenses.  All of that is going to strengthen Ukraine’s hand at the negotiating table and hopefully bring this to a quicker end. QUESTION:  There are reports that Soviet-era tanks will be transferred to Ukraine.  Can you tell me about the U.S. role in facilitating that? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Dana, I can’t get into specific weapon systems.  What I can say is this:  First, we have provided, just over the course of this administration, $2.3 billion in security assistance of one kind or another to Ukraine, just $1.6 billion in the last month alone.  That includes many different weapon systems.  And let me give you one example of this:  Between the United States and our allies and partners, for every Russian tank, there are or will soon be in Ukraine more than 10 anti-tank systems for every Russian tank. So across the board, what we’re trying to do is to make sure that Ukrainians have the systems that they need, that they can use, and they can use right away.  And that’s what’s been happening.  It’s been incredibly effective because of the courage and bravery of the Ukrainian forces. QUESTION:  So what you just described sounds like the U.S. facilitating those tanks going in. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  We are working with countries around the world to facilitate the movement of the systems that the Ukrainians can actually use into Ukraine one way or another. QUESTION:  This week Ukraine floated the idea of taking a Switzerland-like position of neutrality in Europe as part of a peace deal with Russia, but only if Western nations provide security guarantees if Ukraine is attacked.  Would the U.S. help provide those security guarantees? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  So Dana, first, all of this is up to the Ukrainians, which is to say that if they negotiate something that meets their needs, that preserves their sovereignty, their independence, we will back it.  And we’re not going to be less Ukrainian than Ukrainians.  We’re not going to be more Ukrainian than Ukrainians.  So first and foremost, it’s up to them, to their elected representatives, to President Zelenskyy. When it comes to the future, we and allies and partners are going to want to make sure that we do everything we can to ensure that this can’t happen again and that Ukraine has the means to defend itself, to deter further Russian aggression.  So we will look at anything that we can do to back up that kind of outcome. QUESTION:  Sounds like that’s a yes because this is coming from the Ukrainians, as you know.  But they — SECRETARY BLINKEN:  No, I’m not going to get – yeah, I’m not going to get ahead of any details of what might come into some kind of agreement.  But we’re going to want to make sure that we do what we can to help Ukraine defend itself going forward, to deter future Russian aggression.  There are many things that could go into that, but I’m not going to get ahead of them. QUESTION:  Before I let you go, the Biden administration announced this week that you will lift a Trump-era pandemic restriction called Title 42, which restricted immigration at the Southern border.  It comes as your administration says there could be up to 18,000 apprehensions of undocumented migrants per day.  Does the administration see an influx of migrants as a problem, and can you guarantee that they will be treated humanely? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, Dana, first, when it comes to Title 42, all along we’ve been following the science.  That’s what this is about.  So when the CDC and others conclude that the science doesn’t warrant that, as is now happening, then we’ll take action. Here’s my focus and the Vice President’s focus as well:  We’re focused on making sure that people throughout our hemisphere have opportunities at home going forward so they’re not faced with this really hard choice of leaving everything behind and trying to come to the United States.  So building that kind of opportunity, creating what one of my colleagues has called a “right to remain,” is our focus. In the nearer term, the focus I have is trying to make sure that transit countries in particular take steps to make sure that it – that folks who might come or try to come to the United States through their countries can’t do that.  So that’s what I’m focused on. QUESTION:  Secretary of State Antony Blinken, thank you so much for your time.  I really appreciate it. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thanks.  Great to be with you. Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Chuck Todd of NBC’s Meet the Press 04/03/2022 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Chuck Todd of NBC’s Meet the Press 04/03/2022 11:14 AM EDT Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Washington, D.C. QUESTION:  And joining me now is the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.  Mr. Secretary, welcome back to Meet the Press. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Good morning, Chuck. QUESTION:  Let me start with the news of the Russians pulling back from Kyiv, focusing, it appears now, on the East where they’ve had a bit more military success.  Are we in a new phase in this war? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, Chuck, we may be.  I think this is evidence that Russia’s original plans to take over the whole country, including Kyiv, have been dealt a devastating setback.  They are regrouping.  They may be focusing on the East.  But let’s keep in mind they still have the ability to wreak massive death and destruction, including in places like Kyiv, with airpower and missiles.  And at the same time, they may be regrouping; they may be recalibrating.  We’re focused on what they’re doing, not what they’re saying.  And if it’s a refocus on the East, there’s still a tremendous amount that’s going to be ahead of us.  As President Biden said recently, this could go on for some time, and the question is how much death and destruction Russia wreaks in the meantime. QUESTION:  Are we going to help Ukraine reinforce sort of now the Central and Western part of the country, reinforce Kyiv so that essentially the Russians don’t even think about coming back? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Chuck, we’re doing that every single day.  Just over the course of this administration we’ve provided more than $2.3 billion in security assistance – in the last month alone, $1.6 billion – the very kinds of things that have made the Ukrainians incredibly effective in dealing with this Russian onslaught, in pushing it back, in setting it back.  And look, what we’ve already seen is a strategic setback and maybe even defeat for Russia. Russia had three goals going into this: to subjugate Ukraine to its will, to deny its sovereignty and its independence; to assert Russian power; and to divide the West, divide the alliance.  And on all three fronts, it’s failed.  Ukraine is now more united.  It’s – a sovereign, independent Ukraine is going to be there a lot longer than Vladimir Putin is on the scene.  Russian power has actually been vastly diminished.  The military has greatly underperformed.  Its economy is reeling.  And of course, NATO, the West, are more united than in any time in recent memory.  So on those grounds alone, we’ve already seen a dramatic setback for Russia. QUESTION:  You have just described a situation – and Richard Engel was telling me that there are people in Ukraine going, hey, we’ve got Putin in as weak of a spot as we’ve had him in a long time.  This is actually not the time to suddenly negotiate a way for him to get out of this.  So – and nobody wants to see more war.  At the same time, nobody – I don’t think a lot of people, including the President of the United States, wants to see Putin remain in power after this.  So can we really end this with giving Putin some sort of gain in the Donbas? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Chuck, the – how this war ends is up to two things.  It’s up to the Ukrainian people and their elected representatives, including President Zelenskyy.  We’ll support whatever they want to do in terms of how this war comes to an end.  And as to Mr. Putin’s future, that’s up to the Russian people. QUESTION:  But do you acknowledge he’s in a weak moment?  I mean, is this a moment – is this a moment that we’re – if he’s – if we – if we let him lie and he wreaks havoc again, are we going to regret not taking advantage of this moment? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Again, it’s up to, in the first instance, Ukrainians when it comes to what’s going on in Ukraine, and Russians when it comes to what’s going on in Russia.  And here’s the thing:  Even though he’s been set back, even though I believe this is already a strategic defeat for Vladimir Putin, the death and destruction that he is wreaking every single day in Ukraine, the images that are on our TVs and on social media every single day are terrible.  And so there’s also a strong interest in bringing those to an end. QUESTION:  I want to ask about the Zelenskyy – potential Zelenskyy-Putin face-to-face in Turkey.  How realistic is that?  And does President Zelenskyy – does he have the ability to negotiate sanctions relief with Putin? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  So how realistic it is, very hard to say.  The Ukrainians have sought a direct engagement with President Putin for President Zelenskyy.  President Putin has rejected that repeatedly.  We’ll see if he goes forward with anything.  But again, our focus is on making sure that we’re doing everything possible to strengthen Ukraine’s hand at the negotiating table, including with a potential meeting between President Zelenskyy and President Putin.  And that’s exactly what we’re doing.  We’ve been supporting Ukraine.  We’ve been imposing extraordinary pressure on Russia.  We’ve been solidifying our own alliance.  All of that goes to strengthening Ukraine’s hand when it comes to any negotiations with Russia. QUESTION:  Again, I want to go back to – what is – can Zelenskyy negotiate sanctions relief at all here or not? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  The entire international community that’s come together to impose those sanctions on Russia will be looking to see what Ukraine is doing and what it wants to do.  And if it concludes that it can bring this war to an end, stop the death and destruction, and continue to assert its independence and its sovereignty, and ultimately that requires the lifting of sanctions, of course we’re going to look at that.  The purpose of the sanctions, Chuck, is not to be there indefinitely.  It’s to change Russia’s conduct.  And if, as a result of negotiations, the sanctions, the pressure, the support for Ukraine, we achieve just that, then at some point the sanctions will go away.  But that is profoundly up to Russia and what it does going forward. QUESTION:  The restrengthening of the ruble – and I understand there’s some market manipulation there to do that – but there clearly is some signs that the ruble is strengthened. Obviously, Europe – there are plenty of European countries that continue to pay Russia for oil and gas.  Is there more that can be done to tighten – to tighten these sanctions again?  Because it looks like he’s found some ways around them. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, Chuck, first, virtually all of the forecasts show Russia’s economy contracting by 10 percent this year.  That is dramatic, especially at a time when other economies, including our own, are rebounding dramatically.  Second, when it comes to the ruble, it’s more than a little manipulation, it’s a lot of manipulation.  People are being prevented from unloading rubles.  That’s artificially propping up the value.  That’s not sustainable.  So I think you’re going to see that change.  We’ve seen the most extraordinary exodus of virtually every leading business from around the world leaving Russia – everything from McDonald’s to Toyota.  And that’s having not just an immediate impact, but a long-term impact. And then the export controls that we’ve imposed on Russia, denying it the technology it needs to modernize industry after industry, that’s going to have an increasing bite.  Having said that, to your point, we’re working every single day with partners and allies around the world to make sure that we’re tightening the sanctions, closing any loopholes, adding new ones. QUESTION:  Whose side is time on here?  If this is a six – if this is going to drag out another six months, can Ukraine’s military hold up?  Can the European alliance hold up?  Can Putin survive economically? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Chuck, when it comes to the fundamentals, which is to say Putin’s objective in subjugating Ukraine to his will, on denying, taking away its sovereignty and independence, time is certainly not on Vladimir Putin’s side because, as I said, a sovereign, independent Ukraine has demonstrated it’s going to be around a lot longer than Vladimir Putin is on the scene.  The real question, though, again, is what happens in the meantime.  If this goes on, how much death, how much destruction is there?  And that is terrible. So we have a strong interest, the Ukrainians have a strong interest, in ending that.  We’re all working toward that.  The way to do that is to give Ukraine the strongest possible hand, to put as much pressure as we possibly can on Russia while we’re strengthening our own defenses.  That’s exactly what we’ve been doing. QUESTION:  Secretary Antony Blinken, appreciate you coming on and sharing the administration’s perspective. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thanks, Chuck.  Good to be with you. Reported Massacre in Mali 04/03/2022 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Reported Massacre in Mali 04/03/2022 11:30 AM EDT Ned Price, Department Spokesperson We are following the extremely disturbing accounts of large numbers of people killed earlier this week in the village of Mourah in the Mopti region of central Mali. We offer our condolences to the families of all civilians who died. We are concerned that many reports suggest that the perpetrators were unaccountable forces from the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group. Other reports claim the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) had targeted elements of known violent extremist groups. These conflicting reports illustrate the urgent need for the Malian transition authorities to give impartial investigators free, unfettered, and safe access to the area where these tragic events unfolded. Immediate access to eyewitnesses and to the many individuals who are said to be in government custody is essential set the record straight. We call on Mali’s transition government to grant access to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) to conduct a rigorous investigation as mandated by the UN Security Council. Failure to provide a thorough and credible accounting of the facts and accountability will only serve to sow divisions in Malian society, undermine the credibility, legitimacy, and reputation of the FAMa, drive communities into the hands of violent extremist groups, and create conditions for more violence. Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Jamaican Prime Minister Holness 04/03/2022 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Jamaican Prime Minister Holness 04/03/2022 08:33 PM EDT Office of the Spokesperson The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness Friday in Washington, D.C. to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations with the United States, as Jamaica marks the 60th anniversary of its independence.  On behalf of the people and Government of the United States, the Secretary congratulated Jamaicans everywhere and noted our countries’ longstanding, vibrant relationship.  The United States and Jamaica are partners in promoting security and stability, democracy and human rights, and inclusive economic recovery throughout the hemisphere.  The Secretary looks forward to working with the Prime Minister on a full range of issues from reversing the tide of climate change to countering transnational crime and irregular migration, expanding trade and investment opportunities, and creating an inclusive and secure digital future. Secretary Blinken thanked the Prime Minister for Jamaica’s principled stance in condemning Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and his country’s support for the Ukrainian people.  Jamaica stands with people around the world in upholding the principles of the United Nations charter in respecting territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.  The Secretary and Prime Minister also discussed our partnership to improve healthcare outcomes in Jamaica and welcomed Jamaica’s participation in the upcoming Summit of the Americas. Secretary Blinken and Prime Minister Holness agreed that their governments will carry on these bilateral discussions at a working group on security and development issues followed by the next meeting of the U.S. – Jamaica Strategic Dialogue. Public Schedule – April 4, 2022 04/03/2022 You are subscribed to Public Schedule for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Public Schedule – April 4, 2022 04/03/2022 09:09 PM EDT Office of the Spokesperson ***THE DAILY PUBLIC SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***    SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN 9:30 a.m. Secretary Blinken inaugurates the new Cyberspace and Digital Policy Bureau at the Department of State. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE) 11:00 a.m. Secretary Blinken delivers remarks at the unveiling of a bronze bust in honor of former Secretary of State James Baker at the Department of State. (POOLED PRESS COVERAGE) The event will be livestreamed on www.state.gov and www.youtube.com/statedept. 1:00 p.m. Secretary Blinken meets with Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Abdul Momen at the Department of State. (POOLED CAMERA SPRAY AT TOP) 4:00 p.m. Secretary Blinken meets with Maria Ressa at the Department of State. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE) DEPUTY SECRETARY WENDY R. SHERMAN 4:30 p.m. Deputy Secretary Sherman meets with Republic of Korea President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol’s U.S.-ROK Policy Consultation Delegation at the Department of State. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE) DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCES BRIAN P. MCKEON Deputy Secretary McKeon attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State. UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS VICTORIA J. NULAND  Under Secretary Nuland is on travel to France, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus and Germany from April 2-9, 2022.  Please click here for more information. UNDER SECRETARY FOR ARMS CONTROL AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY BONNIE JENKINS 2:00 p.m. Under Secretary Jenkins delivers remarks to the press on the release of the To Walk the Earth in Safety report at the Department of State. (POOLED PRESS COVERAGE) Under Secretary Jenkins’ remarks will be livestreamed on www.state.gov and www.youtube.com/statedept. ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CONFLICT AND STABILIZATION OPERATIONS ANNE WITKOWSKY Assistant Secretary Witkowsky is on travel to Germany from April 3-7, 2022.  Please click here for more information. BRIEFING SCHEDULE 2:00 p.m.  Department Press Briefing with Spokesperson Ned Price.  Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins will join the Spokesperson at the top of the briefing. (POOLED PRESS COVERAGE) The Department Press Briefing will be livestreamed on www.state.gov and www.youtube.com/statedept. Senegal National Day 04/04/2022 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Senegal National Day 04/04/2022 12:01 AM EDT Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State On behalf of the United States of America, I extend best wishes and congratulations to the people and government of Senegal on the 62nd anniversary of your independence. On this special day, we reiterate our commitment to the continued deepening of the ties between our countries.  The United States and Senegal work together on a range of key priorities, including promoting participatory democracy and fostering shared prosperity, as well as our joint efforts on regional security, climate change, and public health.  The United States appreciates Senegal’s regional leadership, and we look forward to coordinating closely with Senegal in the coming year in its role as Chair of the African Union. As your nation celebrates Independence Day, the United States reaffirms our support for Senegal and for all Senegalese. Senegal National Day 04/04/2022 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Senegal National Day 04/04/2022 12:01 AM EDT Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State On behalf of the United States of America, I extend best wishes and congratulations to the people and government of Senegal on the 62nd anniversary of your independence. On this special day, we reiterate our commitment to the continued deepening of the ties between our countries.  The United States and Senegal work together on a range of key priorities, including promoting participatory democracy and fostering shared prosperity, as well as our joint efforts on regional security, climate change, and public health.  The United States appreciates Senegal’s regional leadership, and we look forward to coordinating closely with Senegal in the coming year in its role as Chair of the African Union. As your nation celebrates Independence Day, the United States reaffirms our support for Senegal and for all Senegalese. Assistant Secretary Lee Satterfield Travels to Croatia and Cyprus 04/04/2022 You are subscribed to Europe and Eurasia for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Assistant Secretary Lee Satterfield Travels to Croatia and Cyprus 04/04/2022 07:28 AM EDT Office of the Spokesperson Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Lee Satterfield is traveling to Croatia and Cyprus from April 3-9, 2022. In Croatia, Assistant Secretary Satterfield will celebrate the 30-year anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Croatia, following the successful U.S.-Croatia Strategic Dialogue. Assistant Secretary Satterfield will join a senior U.S. delegation participating in the U.S.-Croatia Forum, where she will promote people-to-people ties through engagements with Croatian government officials, youth, civil society leaders, and alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs. In Cyprus, Assistant Secretary Satterfield will participate in a historic ceremony with leadership from the Republic of Cyprus and the American University of Beirut (AUB) to celebrate AUB’s decision to open its first campus outside Lebanon. The Assistant Secretary will have bilateral discussions on a range of topics and meet with U.S. exchange students and alumni to highlight the importance of people-to-people relationships in working towards a solution within the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality to benefit all Cypriots. For further information, contact ECA-Press@state.gov. Follow along on Twitter at @ECA_AS . Establishment of the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy 04/04/2022 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Establishment of the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy 04/04/2022 07:33 AM EDT Office of the Spokesperson The Department is pleased to announce that the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy (CDP) began operations today. A key piece of Secretary Blinken’s modernization agenda, the CDP bureau will address the national security challenges, economic opportunities, and implications for U.S. values associated with cyberspace, digital technologies, and digital policy. The CDP bureau includes three policy units: International Cyberspace Security, International Information and Communications Policy, and Digital Freedom. Ultimately, the bureau will be led by a Senate-confirmed Ambassador-at-Large. Starting today, Jennifer Bachus, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, is serving as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the CDP bureau. PDAS Bachus will serve as Senior Bureau Official until an Ambassador-at-Large is confirmed. Michele Markoff is serving as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Cyberspace Security, Stephen Anderson is serving as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Information and Communications Policy, and Blake Peterson is serving as Acting Digital Freedom Coordinator. The Department appreciates the service and collaboration of all who will work with and within the CDP bureau in the coming months and years to empower it to achieve its vital mission. Assistant Secretary Lee Satterfield Travels to Croatia and Cyprus 04/04/2022 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Assistant Secretary Lee Satterfield Travels to Croatia and Cyprus 04/04/2022 07:28 AM EDT Office of the Spokesperson Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Lee Satterfield is traveling to Croatia and Cyprus from April 3-9, 2022. In Croatia, Assistant Secretary Satterfield will celebrate the 30-year anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Croatia, following the successful U.S.-Croatia Strategic Dialogue. Assistant Secretary Satterfield will join a senior U.S. delegation participating in the U.S.-Croatia Forum, where she will promote people-to-people ties through engagements with Croatian government officials, youth, civil society leaders, and alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs. In Cyprus, Assistant Secretary Satterfield will participate in a historic ceremony with leadership from the Republic of Cyprus and the American University of Beirut (AUB) to celebrate AUB’s decision to open its first campus outside Lebanon. The Assistant Secretary will have bilateral discussions on a range of topics and meet with U.S. exchange students and alumni to highlight the importance of people-to-people relationships in working towards a solution within the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality to benefit all Cypriots. For further information, contact ECA-Press@state.gov. Follow along on Twitter at @ECA_AS . To Walk the Earth in Safety: New Report Showcases U.S. Global Leadership in Landmine Clearance and Conventional Weapons Destruction 04/04/2022 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. To Walk the Earth in Safety: New Report Showcases U.S. Global Leadership in Landmine Clearance and Conventional Weapons Destruction 04/04/2022 09:42 AM EDT Office of the Spokesperson On April 4, 2022, the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs released the 21st Edition of To Walk the Earth in Safety, a report underscoring the accomplishments of the U.S. Conventional Weapons Destruction (CWD) Program in 2021. The United States is the world’s single largest financial supporter of CWD. Since 1993, the United States has invested more than $4.2 billion for the safe clearance of landmines and explosive weapons of war, as well as the securing and safe disposal of excess small arms and light weapons and munitions in more than 100 countries and territories. In 2021, the United States funded CWD efforts in 62 countries with more than $265 million. Our assistance – that of the United States government and our global partners – is crucial to building a more safe, secure, and prosperous world. Thanks to strong bipartisan funding support from Congress, the Department of State looks forward to continuing this important work with other donor countries, those impacted by conflict, and the brave men and women who work in the field to secure at-risk weapons and munitions and clear landmines and other explosive hazards. For more information, please consult the PM website or to request a printed copy of To Walk the Earth in Safety, please contact the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs’ Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, at pm-cpa@state.gov, and follow us on Twitter @StateDeptPM . Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report on Mitigation 04/04/2022 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report on Mitigation 04/04/2022 11:07 AM EDT Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State This morning’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on mitigation  makes clear what we can do to stop or slow planetary warming.  The report also reveals how current global efforts to mitigate the climate crisis fall far short of what is needed.  Without full implementation of current national pledges and robust, aggressive, and ambitious further action we cannot keep the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal within reach. That is why we have called this the decisive decade.  The IPCC found there are options available now, in all sectors, that can halve global emissions by 2030 – from improving energy efficiency, to halting and reversing global deforestation, to deploying more sustainable transportation and clean energy.  There are ways to improve our chances of success, including more effective decision-making across all levels of government, increased alignment of financial flows with climate outcomes, and enhanced international cooperation. The report also tells us there is reason for hope.  The IPCC found we are making some progress towards the needed reductions in carbon emissions. With actions already taken, and the pledges made under the Paris Agreement through COP26, we can get closer to limiting warming to 2 degrees Celsius, and with additional effort we can keep 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach. That is why the Administration has made tackling the climate crisis a central part of its agenda from Day One.  The President’s FY 2023 budget request to Congress includes more than $11 billion in international climate finance to avert the worst impacts of climate change and to support developing countries in taking more ambitious climate action. This report makes it clear:  the tools to stave off the worst impacts of the climate crisis are firmly within our grasp.  Nations of the world must be brave enough to use them. U.S. Department of State Paid Internship Program Now Open 04/04/2022 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/ ΑπάντησηΠροώθηση