Sanctions implemented against Russia following its 2014 invasion of Crimea will remain in place until the peninsula is returned to Ukraine’s control, Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, announced on Thursday.
“I consider it unfortunate that the occasion of my first appearance here is one in which I must condemn the aggressive actions of Russia,” Haley said during her first appearance at the UN.
Reading from prepared remarks, the Donald Trump appointee issued a strong condemnation of Russia for its invasion of Crimea in 2014.
“We do want to better our relations with Russia. However, the dire situation in Eastern Ukraine is one that demands strong and clear condemnation of Russia’s actions,” said the former South Carolina governor.
“This escalation of violence must stop. The United States stands with the people of Ukraine who have suffered for nearly three years under Russian occupation and military intervention.”
Haley’s remarks are something of a surprise because of the uncertainty regarding Trump’s views of Russia’s Crimean takeover.
The Republican has largely avoided criticizing Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, for taking control of the peninsula. He has previously called Putin “so smart” for carrying out the invasion.
After the invasion, the U.S. and several other nations implemented sanctions against numerous Russian companies, including Rosneft, Russia’s state-owned oil company, and Gazprombank, a state-owned bank.
In her remarks, Haley referred only to the Crimea-related sanctions and not to others that have been implemented in the wake of other aggressive actions by the Kremlin.
“Our Crimea-related sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns control over the peninsula to Ukraine,” she said.
In late-December, the Obama administration announced new sanctions against Russia for conducting cyber attacks against Democrats during the presidential campaign. It is unclear where Trump and his administration stands on those measures.
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