U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gave clear backing to the status of Crimea as a part of Ukraine's sovereign territory despite its occupation by the Russian Federation in a statement that appears to pre-empt any temptation by U.S. President Donald J. Trump to regard the annexation by Russia as something to be accepted.
"By that statement, the US reiterates its unwavering stance and support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The declaration affirms the consistency and permanence of the US foreign policy principles," Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, closely echoing similar swift reactions by the Estonian and Lithuanian foreign ministries.
Latvia welcomes strong and clear statement by @SecPompeo reaffirming US policy of nonrecognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia, international law and justice must prevail, also good to see the reference to Welles declaration of 1940 #CrimeaisUkraine pic.twitter.com/7YW4wV76Z6
— Edgars Rinkēvičs (@edgarsrinkevics) July 25, 2018
Strongly welcome #US Secretary of State @SecPompeo declaration on non-recognition of #Russia's annexation of #Crimea–firm voice of solidarity w #Ukraine that continues to suffer from Russia's aggression.Allies are standing united w Ukrainians @PavloKlimkin https://t.co/49cYfrdmo1
— Linas Linkevicius (@LinkeviciusL) July 25, 2018
We welcome the declaration by @SecPompeo on not recognising the illegal annexation and occupation of Crimea. It reiterates once again that the US and the international community will never accept the annexation of Crimea.https://t.co/TgpH3gdWPd
— Estonian MFA (@MFAestonia) July 25, 2018
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also drew attention to parallels between Pompeo's Crimea Declaration and the Sumner Welles Declaration of 1940 which initiated the US policy of non-recognition of the occupation of the Baltic States by the USSR.
"In the Crimea Declaration, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo refers to the Sumner Welles declaration and pledges that the US will maintain its policy of non-recognition of the annexation of Crimea until Ukraine’s territorial integrity is restored," the ministry said.
Latvia has as a matter of principle, condemned the illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. That policy followed by Latvia has been in effect since 1 March 2014, when the President of Latvia, the Speaker of the Saeima (the Latvian Parliament), the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs issued a joint statement “On Russia’s Interference in Ukraine”.