The US defence Secretary Jim Mattis arrived in Kiev on an official visit, where he attended the parade in honor of the 26th anniversary of independence of Ukraine and met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
Mattis became the first head of the Pentagon, visited Ukraine after Robert gates in 2007, reports the Associated Press.
The Minister of defence said in favor of granting Ukraine lethal weapons, and also noted that the administration of President Donald trump will never accept the fact of annexation of the Crimea by Russia.
«No doubt, the United States together with Ukraine,» said Mattis in a joint press conference with Poroshenko. «Washington does not recognize now and in the future will not recognize the annexation of Crimea in 2014».
Mattis said that his presence in Kyiv – a statement of support for Ukraine’s sovereignty from the United States.
«Despite the fact that Russia denies it, we know that they want to forcibly redraw the international boundary,» — said the Minister.
Answering a journalist’s question, whether he agrees with the opinion of the administration of Obamathat the supply of lethal weapons will provoke Moscow, Mattis said: «This weapon is not a provocation, if you are the aggressor.»
Earlier Wednesday, Senator John McCain, a critic of the precautionary approach of the former President Barack Obama for assistance to the Ukrainian army, said that trump needs to change course.
«This will help deter further Russian aggression and to ensure a stable security environment,» said McCain.
