U.S. urges Russia to end its illegal occupation of Crimea.

Washington "will continue" to urge Russia to end its illegal occupation of Ukraine's Crimea and will strengthen its bonds with Ukraine, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III told Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Pentagon on Tuesday, Aug 31, TURAN's U.S. correspondent reports.

President Zelenskyy is in Washington to discuss the larger aspects of the U.S.-Ukraine relationship. According to the White House Press Office, President Biden will meet him in the Oval Office this afternoon.

"This visit will affirm the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression in the Donbas and Crimea, our close cooperation on energy security, and our backing for President Zelenskyy’s efforts to tackle corruption and implement a reform agenda based on our shared democratic values. This meeting will have a pool spray at the top," Turan's correspondent reports quoting the White House' Press Office.  

"Our support for Ukraine sovereignty, territorial integrity, and Euro-Atlantic aspirations is unwavering," Secretary Austin said on Tuesday when welcoming Zelenskyy at the Pentagon.

"We will continue to stand with you in the face of this Russian aggression," he pledged.

Washington, he said, wants to strengthen the strategic defense partnership with Ukraine. To that end, Austin signed a strategic defense framework agreement with Defense Minister Andrii Taranto.

The document is meant to enhance cooperation between the two nations and "advances shared priorities by ensuring that our bilateral security cooperation continues to help Ukraine counter Russian aggression," Austin said.

The agreement also looks at defense industry reforms in support of Ukraine's NATO membership aspirations, and deepening cooperation in such areas of Black Sea security, cyber defense, and intelligence sharing, according to the Pentagon.

Since the Russia aggression, the U.S, has provided Ukraine with more than $2.5 billion in aid. With President Biden’s approval of a new $60 million package for additional Javelin anti-armor systems and other defensive lethal and non-lethal capabilities, Washington has committed more than $400 million in security assistance to Ukraine this year alone.

Austin said the U,S. "remains committed to Ukraine", and he looks forward to "a more secure, prosperous, democratic and free" Ukraine.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.