On the 26th anniversary of Ukraine's independence from Moscow, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis declared that the Trump administration will not accept Moscow's "annexation" of Crimea region, CBS News reports.
"Have no doubt," Mattis said at a news conference with Poroshenko. "The United States stands with Ukraine." He said Washington does not, "and we will not," accept Russia's annexation of Crimea, a 2014 action that was followed by Russian military intervention in support of separatists in eastern Ukraine.
"Despite Russia's denials, we know they are seeking to redraw international borders by force," Mattis said, an ambition by Moscow that Mattis said is undermining sovereign European nations and stirring tension.