Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The Russian leadership needs to be “taught a lesson” in the context of Crimea, US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Celeste Wallander said on April 10 at a hearing in the Armed Services Committee of the House of Representatives of the country’s Congress.
Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz asked Wallander whether it was necessary to exclude Crimea from the Russian Federation in order to “strategically defeat” Russia in the conflict. Wallander replied that it was up to Ukraine to decide.
“For me, implementing the international norm that borders cannot be changed by force is absolutely vital to teach Russian President Vladimir Putin a lesson, so yes,” she added.
Goetz clarified whether the US goals will be considered achieved without the exit of Crimea from Russia.
“For Russia to not take territory through the use of force is a strategic success for Ukraine and the United States,” Wallander responded.
The congressman, in turn, said that Crimea will never secede from the Russian Federation and if Washington has such a goal, then it is unattainable. Another committee member, Democrat Adam Smith, also said Crimea would remain part of Russia.
As Regnum reported, earlier the Washington Post, citing sources, wrote that US presidential candidate Donald Trump said in a private conversation that he intends to end the conflict in Ukraine by forcing the Kiev regime to agree to the loss of Crimea and Donbass.
Geopolitical realities changed during the conflict in Ukraine, four new regions became part of Russia, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters in April 2024, commenting on the call of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to establish peace without territorial concessions to Russia.
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