LOC22:48
19:48 GMT
WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (KUNA) -- Secretary of State John Kerry spoke by
telephone on Sunday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about the
situation in Ukraine, the State Department announced.
Kerry expressed the US government's "strong support for the action of the
Ukrainian parliament today to name an acting president and acting prime
minister, and to move quickly to stabilize the country's political and
economic situation," the announcement said.
He "emphasized that the votes taken today by huge majorities of the
Ukrainian people's elected representatives from all parties, including the
Party of Regions, offer the best and most promising path forward to restore
peace and stability to Ukraine quickly, and to address Ukraine's pressing
financial challenges in the coming weeks and months," it said.
Kerry "restated America's readiness to work with all members of the
international community and all international institutions to support Ukraine
and the Ukrainian people at this critical time," the statement said.
The Secretary "expressed our hope that the Russian Federation will join
with us, the European Union and its member states, and other concerned
countries to help Ukraine turn the page and emerge from this crisis stronger,
united and moving forward through new elections and critically needed reforms,
" it said.
Kerry "noted our call for all sides to refrain from violence and to respect
Ukraine's democratic institutions," the announcement said.
He also underscored the United States' expectation that Ukraine's
sovereignty, territorial integrity and democratic freedom of choice will be
respected by all states, it said. (end)
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KUNA 232248 Feb 14NNNN