Pompeo urges Russia to reach out to Zelensky

He stated this at a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Sochi on May 14. The event was broadcast by American television channel C-Span, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"I urged Russia to reach out to Ukraine's new president to demonstrate leadership by taking steps towards breaking the stalemate," Pompeo said.

He also stressed that President Donald Trump's administration has been clear that the United States does not recognize Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea and added that the U.S. side planned to keep in place the sanctions related to Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

Pompeo said that the United States would welcome the release of Ukrainian sailors detained by Russia near the Kerch Strait last year. In addition, he said that the sides had discussed the implementation of the Minsk agreements and "how we might move forward in obtaining a ceasefire in the Donbas region."

According to Pompeo, during the meeting the sides also discussed the situation in Syria, Venezuela, North Korea's nuclear program, threats of terrorism, the situation in Afghanistan, and other issues.

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