AS DELIVERED

Thank you, Madam President

The United States fully supports the addition of the agenda item “the Situation in the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine.”

The United States’ position on Ukraine is consistent and clear – we condemn Russia’s ongoing occupation of Crimea and call on Russia to release the approximately 70 Ukrainian political prisoners it holds, including Oleh Sentsov, who remains on hunger strike and whose health is deteriorating.

We also condemn Russia’s ongoing aggression in eastern Ukraine. Russia exerts direct control over anti-government forces in eastern Ukraine and has introduced thousands of pieces of heavy military equipment into the conflict zone.

We remain committed to the resolution of the conflict and call on Russia to fully implement its commitments under the Minsk agreements, including through the “withdrawal of all foreign armed formations” from the territory of Ukraine.

We urge all Member States to vote in favor of adding this item to the General Assembly’s Agenda.

Thank you, Madam President.

###