Cancelled: Dec. 12 Event with Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt

Due to ongoing developments in Ukraine, Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt has postponed his DC travel and will remain in Kyiv. Accordingly, tomorrow’s public event “US Response to Ukraine’s S.O.S.” has been cancelled.

The Atlantic Council will continue to follow events as they unfold in Ukraine, and is planning future programming.

Amb. Pyatt has been working with Assistant Secretary Nuland in Kyiv to help diffuse tensions. Nuland met with Ukrainian President Yanukovych earlier today and spoke to media following the meeting. Her remarks are below.

Hello Ukraine! It is my honor to have been here in these historic and difficult days. I hope the people of Ukraine know that the United States stands with you in your search for justice, for human dignity, for security, for economic health and for the European future that you have chosen and you deserve. I just spent more than two hours with President Yanukovych. It was a tough conversation, but it was a realistic one. I made it absolutely clear to him that what happened last night, what has been happening in security terms here, is absolutely impermissible in a European state, in a democratic state. But we also made clear that we believe there is a way out for Ukraine, that it is still possible to save Ukraine’s European future and that is what we want to see the President lead. But that is going to require immediate security steps and getting back into a conversation with Europe and with the International Monetary Fund, and bringing justice and dignity to the people of Ukraine. I have no doubt after our meeting that President Yanukovych knows what he needs to do. The whole world is watching. We want to see a better future for Ukraine. Thank you all. I am going home to report to my government.

For the latest analysis by Council experts, please visit atlanticcouncil.org/ukraine.

Image: U.S. Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland offers food to police as she and U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt, second right, walk through Independence Square in Kiev, Ukraine, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013. Photo: State Dept / Dec 11, 2013

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Cancelled: Dec. 12 Event with Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt