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John Kerry 'confident of ways forward' to ease Ukraine tensions US to offer financial assistance to Moldova and Georgia
(about 2 hours later)
US secretary of state John Kerry says he's hoping for steps to ease tensions in Ukraine now that the new president has been sworn in. The US is offering new financial assistance to Moldova and Georgia, two former Soviet nations the west is seeking to lure towards Europe.
Kerry tells reporters in France that he's "confident there are ways forward," and that includes Russia's help in getting separatists to put away their weapons and relinquish buildings they're occupying. Vice-president Joe Biden announced the aid in Kiev on Saturday during meetings with both nations' presidents on the sidelines of the new Ukrainian president's inauguration.
He says the hope is not to impose tougher penalties against Russia over its actions in Ukraine. Secretary of state John Kerry, meanwhile, said on Saturday he was hoping for steps to ease tensions in Ukraine now that the new president has been sworn in.
Both Moldova and Georgia are pursuing association agreements with the European Union amid a regional crisis over Russia's actions in Ukraine.
The White House says an additional $8m will help Moldova "advance its European aspirations”. The US is also sending $5m to Georgia to help economically vulnerable people living near Russian-controlled breakaway regions.
The aid follows President Barack Obama's announcement that the US will work to boost the military capacity of non-Nato countries near Russia, including Moldova and Georgia.
Kerry told reporters in France he was "confident there are ways forward" and that included Russia's help in getting separatists to put away their weapons and relinquish buildings they are occupying.
He said the hope was not to impose tougher penalties against Russia over its actions in Ukraine.
Earlier Saturday, Ukraine's new president Petro Poroshenko said he wanted a dialogue with his country's east, where a separatist insurgency has taken hold.Earlier Saturday, Ukraine's new president Petro Poroshenko said he wanted a dialogue with his country's east, where a separatist insurgency has taken hold.
Kerry raised the possibility of a cease-fire and said it's important to begin to build Ukraine. Kerry raised the possibility of a ceasefire and said it's important to begin to build Ukraine.
He spoke in the French seaside town of Saint Briac that's home to his family's ancestral estate, on the 70th anniversary of D-Day. He spoke in the French seaside town of Saint Briac that is home to his family's ancestral estate, on the 70th anniversary of D-Day.
A day after attending international ceremonies to mark the allied invasion of France in Normandy, Kerry traveled to Saint Briac in the neighboring province of Brittany, where his mother's family has long owned property.A day after attending international ceremonies to mark the allied invasion of France in Normandy, Kerry traveled to Saint Briac in the neighboring province of Brittany, where his mother's family has long owned property.
Three US soldiers were killed during the liberation of the town in August, 1944, and Kerry placed a wreath at a monument "To the Americans" that overlooks the harbor. Three US soldiers were killed during the liberation of the town in August, 1944, and Kerry placed a wreath at a monument "To the Americans" that overlooks the harbour.
In remarks later at the town hall, Kerry paid tribute to the soldiers and to the people of Saint Briac. He credited them with helping to save heirlooms from his family's estate, Les Essarts. The Nazis had turned it into their local headquarters during the occupation and destroyed it as allied troops approached after D-Day, 6 June 1944.
Kerry, who first visited Les Essarts after the war when he was four, told a crowd gathered for Saturday's ceremony that he remembered almost nothing being left of the house, "just a stone staircase to the sky and an old, brick chimney."
"I can still hear the sound of the rubble and broken glass that was crunching under our shoes as we walked through what used to be her house," he said from the mayor's balcony. He was flanked by American and French flags and blowups of the famous "Kiss of Liberation" photograph depicting a US sergeant kissing a young French girl in Saint Briac as the town celebrated the end of Nazi occupation.
The photographer, Tony Vaccaro, who was a private in the unit, was present at the event. The mayor announced that the town hall was being named after Vaccaro, who cried when he heard the news.
Les Essarts was rebuilt in 1954 in an effort that Kerry said was symbolic of the strength and resolve of France to rebuild after the war.
"In a sense, that represents the story of France," he said. "Certainly this country saw tragedy during World War II as very few others did. But France rebuilt itself, brick by brick, and today she is as strong as ever," Kerry told the crowd.
"To me, Saint Briac's World War II legacy isn't just about loss and destruction," he said.
"It's a legacy of strength. It's a legacy of solidarity. Ultimately, it's a legacy of good prevailing over evil of freedom prevailing over tyranny."