There is no change in America's sanctions policy on Russia, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said as Democrats grilled him over the recent meeting between President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Helsinki.
Testifying before Senate Committee on Foreign Relations yesterday, Pompeo assured Senators that the US does not and will not recognise the Kremlin's purported annexation of Crimea.
“We stand together with allies, partners and the international community in our commitment to Ukraine and its territorial integrity. There will be no relief of Crimea-related sanctions until Russia returns control of the Crimean Peninsula to Ukraine. This Crimea declaration formalises United States policy of non-recognition,” he said.
Responding to questions from angry lawmakers on the recent Trump-Putin meeting, Pompeo said there has been no change in sanctions policy with regard to Russia.
“The US policy with respects to sanctions remains completely unchanged,” he said during a heated exchange of words with the Democratic Senator, Robert Menendez, who is the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Pompeo said Trump was "very clear" with Putin about US positions.