PARSIPPANY, N.J. – “Why should U.S. taxpayers be interested in Ukraine?” That question was posed by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to European foreign affairs ministers on April 11 in Lucca, Italy, where the Group of Seven was meeting.
A story filed by Bloomberg said it was an offhand remark that left the diplomats “befuddled.”
State Department spokesman R.C. Hammond downplayed the comments, telling Bloomberg that the secretary was simply using a “rhetorical device.”
A statement of concern was issued the next day by the co-chairs of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus. Reps. Andy Harris (R-Md.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), and Sander Levin (D-Mich.) said: “We are deeply concerned with the reported question asked by Secretary of State Tillerson ‘Why should U.S. taxpayers be interested in Ukraine?’ It is abundantly clear that the U.S. has a major security interest in a free and democratic Ukraine, one not subject to Russian aggression. The statement by a State Department spokesman that the secretary’s statement was a ‘rhetorical device’ only adds to the uncertainties about what the basic policies are of the current administration. The secretary’s statement also seems contradictory to his earlier statements in support of sanctions against Russia. It is imperative that the United States stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine, who have demonstrated time and again their shared values for sovereignty, human rights, and the rule of law.”
Reporting on the G-7 meeting, Bloomberg noted: “French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who later recounted the exchange to reporters, said he responded that American taxpayers ought to want a European Union that’s ‘strong politically, strong from a security point of view, and strong economically.’ ”
The news service also commented: “But the provocative remark suggested Tillerson, the former chief of Exxon Mobil Corp., is still finding his footing in a world of diplomacy where even passing remarks are parsed for deeper meaning.”
In Washington, The Hill observed that “Tillerson’s comments about Ukraine come at a time when Trump administration has been under fire for his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.”
“Western European countries fear a growing Kremlin presence, especially with any actions that suggest it is trying to gain control over former Soviet bloc states,” The Hill reported.
The Hill noted that Secretary of State Tillerson has argued that the U.S. and Europe should not lift sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine and annexing Crimea.
“The reason the sanctions were put in place continue to exist,” he said on April 9 on ABC’s “This Week.”
“There’s been no change of the status of the situation in Ukraine or Crimea. And those sanctions will remain in place until those issues are addressed,” the secretary of state added.
Secretary of State Tillerson’s question about Ukraine came on the eve of his visit to Moscow, where he met with Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin.
In his comments before meeting with Mr. Lavrov on April 12, Mr. Tillerson spoke in general about U.S.-Russia relations, noting: “Our meeting today comes at an important moment in the relationship so that we can further clarify areas of common objectives, areas of common interest, even when our tactical approaches may be different, and to further clarify areas of sharp difference so that we can better understand why these differences exist and what the prospects for narrowing those differences may be. And I look forward to a very open, candid, frank exchange so that we can better define the U.S.-Russia relationship from this point forward. And I thank you for hosting these important meetings today, and I look forward to a very wide-ranging discussion on a number of important topics.”
The State Department website noted that the topics of discussion would include “Ukraine, counterterrorism efforts, bilateral relations and other issues, including the DPRK [North Korea] and Syria” and that Mr. Tillerson’s trip “is part of our effort to maintain direct lines of communication with senior Russian officials and to ensure U.S. views are clearly conveyed, including on next steps in Minsk implementation.”
At the press availability after the U.S.-Russia talks, Mr. Tillerson said: “On Minsk, we considered the importance of the accord. Russia can make progress in implementation by de-escalating violence and taking steps to withdraw separatist armed forces and heavy weapons so that OSCE observers can fulfill their role. Until full progress is made under the Minsk accords, the situation in Ukraine will remain an obstacle to improvement in relations between the U.S. and Russia.”