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A2 UP FRONT
Friday 25 august 2017
In Kiev, Mattis says Moscow wants to redraw borders by force

By ROBERT BURNS cord known as the Minsk
AP National Security Writer Agreement, which lays out
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — On a roadmap for reducing
the 26th anniversary of the conflict in Ukraine that
Ukraine’s independence has claimed some 10,000
from Moscow, U.S. Defense lives over the past three
Secretary Jim Mattis ac- years. He also cited other
cused Russia of menac- Russian commitments to
ing Europe and suggested Ukraine dating to 1994.
that he favors providing “Unfortunately, Russia is
Ukraine with defensive le- not adhering to the let-
thal weapons. ter, much less the spirit of
Mattis also said the Trump these international com-
administration will not ac- mitments,” he said.
cept Moscow’s annexa- “We in the United States
tion of Ukraine’s Crimea understand the strategic
region. challenges associated
After attending a spirted with Russian aggression,”
and colorful indepen- Mattis added.
dence day parade, Mat- It has been known for
tis met with President Petro weeks that the Trump ad-
Poroshenko and other top ministration has reopened
government leaders. He is consideration of long-
the first Pentagon chief to rejected plans to give
visit the former Soviet re- Ukraine lethal weapons.
public since Robert Gates U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, center, attends a military parade to celebrate independence Those deliberations put
in 2007. day in Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017. The Ukraine officially declared itself independent pressure on President Don-
“Have no doubt,” Mattis from the Soviet Union on April 24, 1991. ald Trump, who is fighting
said at a news conference (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) perceptions he is soft on
with Poroshenko. “The depth of American com- Mattis replied, “Defensive decision on arms. He said, Moscow amid investiga-
United States stands with mitment to Ukraine’s sover- weapons are not provoca- however, that Moscow tions into whether his cam-
Ukraine.” He said Washing- eignty. tive unless you’re an ag- should realize that step- paign colluded with the
ton does not, “and we will “Despite Russia’s denials, gressor.” ping up U.S. military support Kremlin to interfere in the
not,” accept Russia’s an- we know they are seeking Mattis declined to say for Kiev “would increase 2016 U.S. election.
nexation of Crimea, a 2014 to redraw international bor- explicitly what he would the price if Russia made In his remarks alongside
action that was followed ders by force,” Mattis said, recommend to the White the decision to attack my Poroshenko, Mattis said the
by Russian military interven- an ambition by Moscow House on the weapons is- troops and my territory.” U.S. is committed to help-
tion in support of separat- that the secretary said is sue. He did not say so, but Poroshenko said an esti- ing Ukraine build and mod-
ists in eastern Ukraine. undermining sovereign Eu- it is known that the Penta- mated 3,000 “regular” Rus- ernize its armed forces.
Poroshenko told reporters ropean nations and stirring gon and the State Depart- sian troops are in eastern Sen. John McCain, a vo-
that Crimea is Ukrainian tension. ment have recommended Ukraine. cal critic of President
territory. “It should come Asked by a reporter wheth- going ahead with defen- In his remarks, Mattis cited Barack Obama’s cau-
back to Ukraine,” he said. er he agrees with the sive weapons transfers to agreements and commit- tious approach to assist-
Mattis was blunt in his criti- Obama administration’s Ukraine. ments that Moscow has ing the Ukrainian army,
cism of Russia and said his view that selling defensive Poroshenko sidestepped made since the collapse of said Wednesday that
presence in Kiev is intend- lethal weapons to Ukraine the question of how soon the Soviet Union in 1991, in- Trump should change that
ed as a statement of the would provoke Moscow, he expects a White House cluding a two-year-old ac- course.q

Kushner’s Mideast peace push met with Palestinian skepticism

By M. DARAGHMEH The Palestinians initially said Ahmad Majdalani, an
Associated Press welcomed Trump’s elec- aide to Abbas.
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) tion, but they have since It was not clear whether
— Presidential adviser Jar- grown impatient with what Kushner offered any clarity
ed Kushner met with Israeli they say is a failure by the during his three-hour meet-
and Palestinian leaders on U.S. president to present a ing with Abbas. Nabil Abu
Thursday to try to jumpstart roadmap for peace. Spe- Rdeneh, Abbas’ spokes-
moribund peace talks, but cifically, they are seeking man, called the meeting
after months without prog- a halt to Israeli settlement “positive,” without discuss-
ress the Mideast envoy construction on occupied ing details, and said the
faces growing skepticism lands, and an American Palestinian leader had re-
on the Palestinian side. commitment to the estab- iterated his desire for an
With no clear vision for lishment of an indepen- American commitment to
peace outlined by the ad- dent Palestinian state as a Palestinian state.
ministration and domestic part of a peace deal with “We greatly appreciate
issues distracting President Israel. the efforts of U.S. Presi-
Donald Trump, Israeli Prime In this Friday, Aug. 11, 2017 photo, White House senior adviser “If the U.S. team doesn’t dent Donald Trump who
Jared Kushner listens to comments at Trump National Golf Club
Minister Benjamin Netan- in Bedminster, N.J. Kushner met with Israeli and Palestinian lead- bring answers to our ques- pledged from the begin-
yahu and Palestinian Presi- ers on Thursday to try to jumpstart moribund peace talks, but tions this time, we are going ning that he is going to
dent Mahmoud Abbas, after months without progress the Mideast envoy faces growing to look into our options be- work for the ultimate deal,”
expectations for the new skepticism on the Palestinian side. cause the status quo is not Abbas said ahead of the
peace push are low. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) working for our interests,” meeting. q