Vienna, Dec 7 (AP) US Secretary of State Rex Tillersonsaid today that Ukraine was the sole sticking point keepingthe United States and Russia from forging a closerrelationship, suggesting that all other disputes weresecondary.
"The issue that stands in the way is Ukraine," Tillersonsaid.
The assessment from America's top diplomat notably playeddown other areas of dispute, particularly Russia's meddling inthe 2016 presidential election. US intelligence agencies,including the CIA and FBI, have concluded the Kremlininterfered in the election in an effort to help now-PresidentDonald Trump and hurt Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Trump has repeatedly cast doubt on that finding, and aspecial counsel is investigating whether members of the Trumpcampaign colluded with the Russian effort. He has said hebelieves Russian President Vladimir Putin's personal denialsthat Moscow meddled.
But Tillerson hasn't shied away from accusing the Kremlinof election interference. One of the Trump team's toughestvoices on Russia, he said in a speech last week that there was"clear evidence of Russia meddling in democratic elections inthe US and Europe," and he called it part of an "active threatof a recently resurgent Russia."Tillerson's focus on Ukraine came as he met with Europeandiplomats at the Organisation for Security and Cooperation inEurope, established during the Cold War to serve as a bridgebetween East and West.
Tillerson insisted the US could never overlook Russia's"attempted annexation" of Crimea or Moscow's militaryintrusion in eastern Ukraine.
"We should be clear about the source of this violence,"Tillerson said.
"Russia is arming, leading, training and fightingalongside anti-government forces." (AP)NSA.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.