Right of Reply to Russia on the Abduction and Detention of Ukrainian Citizens: Statement to the PC

I just wanted to respond to our distinguished Russian colleague and say, for the record and to be perfectly clear, that our delegation is very disappointed to hear the Russian delegation claim that it has no obligations under the commitments it has made at Minsk over the last year-and-a-half, including the Minsk Protocol, Memorandum, and Package of Measures, to release hostages. And let me be perfectly clear that it is the firm conviction of the United States that Russia has undertaken to release all hostages, and that until and unless it has released all hostages it has failed to uphold its commitments under Minsk.

Thank you.

As delivered by Ambassador Daniel B. Baer to the OSCE Permanent Council, Vienna