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06/28/2023 06:16 PM EDT
Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson
1:37 p.m. EDT
MR PATEL: Good afternoon, everybody. Apologies for being a little bit tardy. I do not have anything off the top, so Simon, would you like to kick us off?
[]QUESTION: Sure, yeah. I wonder if you have any up-to-date information following the weekend’s events in Russia. Particularly interested if the U.S. is tracking changes to the status of the Wagner Group. I know your – Matt said the other day – talked about a successor organization. What is your view of what’s going to be replacing Wagner’s presence in some countries, particularly African countries where they’re operating?
MR PATEL: So, Simon, I don’t have any updates or anything to share beyond what Matt spoke to about this earlier in this week. We continue to monitor the situation and will continue to be in close coordination with our allies and partners. As we’ve said before, this is an internal Russian matter, and it’s too soon to know the impacts, both for the immediate region, but to your other question about potential impacts in other parts of the world. The one thing I will just make clear is that our support for Ukraine will continue. That’s a point that President Biden made directly with President Zelenskyy over the weekend and in his conversations with our allies and partners. And as you all know, yesterday we did announce a new package for Ukraine as well.
QUESTION: Can I have a follow-up?
MR PATEL: Sure, go ahead.
[]QUESTION: Would you agree with the Polish president that the presence of Wagner in Belarus poses a threat to the neighboring countries – Poland, the Baltics?
MR PATEL: Leon, we have not parsed our words about the destabilizing impact that the Wagner Group has when it has a presence in any country. We’ve certainly spoken to this about – a great deal when it comes to the Wagner Group’s operations throughout Africa. I’m of course not going to speculate on any forthcoming actions or things that could happen internally, but would just again reiterate that the Wagner Group has a very clear track record. There’s a reason that they and Mr. Prigozhin are designated entities and why the U.S. takes – will continue to take steps to hold them and affiliated individuals accountable for their destabilizing activities.
QUESTION: Do you have any idea on the figure, on the number of Wagner Group that relocated in Belarus?
MR PATEL: I don’t. I don’t have any figures or metrics to offer from up here.
Matt, anything? No? Okay. Go ahead, Alex.
QUESTION: A couple on Wagner, Vedant.
MR PATEL: Yeah.
QUESTION: Two questions about Wagner. Beyond yesterday’s sanctions, have there been any attempts over the past couple of days to reach out to African leaders and explain to them – or discourage them from cooperating with Wagner?
MR PATEL: I’m certainly not going to get into specific diplomatic engagements or conversations that we’ve had, Alex. But we, as I’ve said, have not parsed words or been unambiguous about how we feel the Wagner Group operates, how we feel they – what we feel their impacts on various countries are and the kind of state that they leave countries and its natural resources in. So this is something that we’ll continue to engage with our allies and partners on, including on the continent of Africa and elsewhere, very regularly.
QUESTION: Sure. Now that – that’s fair enough. Now that Putin acknowledged that he has been funding Wagner Group, I’m just wondering if it changed your view of their presence in Africa and other countries. Do you see this as an invasion from Russia, or what is – how do you name the name of this game?
MR PATEL: I don’t have a new or updated nomenclature to offer you, Alex. What was true last week, which is – is that when the Wagner Group has a presence in a country, that country finds itself more susceptible to destabilizing actions, it finds itself more susceptible to its natural resources being exploited and taken advantage of. All those things that were true last week continue to be – remain true today.
QUESTION: You have recognized – designated Wagner Group as a global criminal organization. As you know, we are just days before – ahead of Russian Government’s intention to integrate them into Russian military. Do you have any red line there? I mean, a criminal – members of a criminal organization will officially serve in the Russian military.
MR PATEL: I don’t – I don’t understand your question, Alex.
QUESTION: Because you know that there have been outside contacts with Wagner members. They have a deadline, until July 1st.
MR PATEL: I certainly —
QUESTION: Does it change your —
MR PATEL: I don’t have a new designation to preview. You’ve heard us talk about the Wagner Group and our designation of them as a transnational crime organization. I’ve spoken about this before. Our assessment continues to be that these – this is a group that is – continues to be motivated by profit, which is one of the many factors that go into a transnational crime organization designation.
[]QUESTION: Then a final question on Ukraine. A Kramatorsk strike today. Do you have any readout on that? I know that we have been talking about particular strikes from time to time, but this is a strike on a pizza restaurant, and this has been done by the Russian army using Iskander, according to the Ukrainian side, Iskander missiles, which means they have deliberately targeted that particular civilian area and that object. Do you have any —
MR PATEL: Well, Alex, the U.S. unequivocally condemns the targeting of civilians and offers our sincere condolences to those lost in this most recent strike in the city center. We are appalled by this but, unfortunately, not surprised by Russia’s conduct. This is another example of Russia’s continuing escalation and the sheer brutality of its war of aggression in Ukraine.
QUESTION: Do you —
MR PATEL: While others are focused on pursuing a way to end this war, Russia is again undertaking strikes, sending drones and missiles into residential areas of a neighboring country. As you so noted, Alex, yesterday they hit a popular shopping center, a restaurant that has been frequented by volunteers, by families, by journalists, killing and injuring scores of people. It continues to be – their conduct and their actions in Ukraine continue to be unacceptable.
Anything else on this before we move away?
QUESTION: I have question.
MR PATEL: Janne, go ahead.
[]QUESTION: Thank you. Kim Jong-un – North Korean Kim Jong-un sent a message saying he support Russian President Putin. What do you think the prospect for the close relationship between the Wagner Group and North Korea will be?
MR PATEL: What do I think – what?
QUESTION: What do you think the prospect for the close relationship between the Wagner Group and the North Koreans will be?
MR PATEL: I am certainly not going to speculate or try and get in the mind of Kim Jong-un.
[]QUESTION: And one more questions. The members of the House national defense committee visit to Taiwan yesterday. It is part of implementing the National Defense Authorization Act passed by Congress. China is offended again. How can you comment on this?
MR PATEL: Well, I will let these respective member offices speak to their own travels. But what I will just say broadly, though, is that members of Congress have traveled to Taiwan before. There has been historical precedent. And again, as you’ve seen us speak about this in previous iterations, this is no reason to incite tensions or to change the status quo. That’s certainly not what the United States is seeking. But again, this is not Executive Branch travel and I will let these congressional member offices speak to their own engagements.
Go ahead.
[]QUESTION: Thanks. Liam Cosgrove with The Grayzone. I just wanted to follow up on my question yesterday about whether the U.S. supports Ukraine President Zelenskyy’s recent decision to postpone presidential elections due to martial law.
MR PATEL: So this is a little bit of a hypothetical, and certainly don’t – as you know, we tend to not engage in hypotheticals. But what I will say is that we continue to stay in close touch with our Ukrainian partners. It’s also an opportunity – I’d remind you that martial law is only in place because Russia continues to wage a full-scale illegal war against Ukraine and its people. Ukraine and its people are fighting for survival, fighting to defend their independence, and as President Zelenskyy has often made clear, they’re fighting for their democracy.
It’s also important to remember that nearly 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory is occupied, and tens of millions of citizens are displaced because of Russia’s war. We’ve made clear our commitment in supporting Ukraine in its fight, and we support a careful constitutional approach to keeping democracy strong in wartime. And we also strongly support the role of civil society and the role that it’ll continue to play in providing input, analysis, and guidance on maintaining strong democratic processes and institutions.
QUESTION: So it’s hypothetical as to whether the war will be going on during those presidential elections, but his decision to postpone the election was not hypothetical. He said that – he made a televised announcement about that. Do you support that decision specifically?
MR PATEL: I don’t have anything additional to offer beyond what I just laid out. This is something that we’re going to continue to remain in close touch with our Ukrainian partners on.
QUESTION: Wait. What exactly does keeping democracy safe in wartime mean to you?
MR PATEL: Matt, we partner —
QUESTION: Does that mean – I mean, does that mean, like – just look at our own history. Alien and Sedition Acts. What does that mean?
MR PATEL: I’m – certainly it’s not for me to be prescriptive about. What I am saying – or for the U.S. Government to be prescriptive about. What I was simply saying is that we, as it relates to the multiplicity of support that we are offering our Ukrainian partners – of course we talk a lot about our support in the security space, but there is also other areas: humanitarian support, support for civil society, and things of that nature.
QUESTION: But in other places you have been not supportive of having elections held while there is conflict going on, Syria being one – an example. I’m just not sure I understand your response to the question because, I mean, if Ukraine – you’re right that there are hundreds of thousands if not millions of people displaced. Voting would be difficult under the current circumstances. Why would you not give your support to something like a postponement?
MR PATEL: Matt, we’re just – I don’t have a formal decision to – or announcement to offer. This obviously is something that is for our Ukrainian partners to determine. We of course will continue to remain in close touch with them throughout this process, as we have remained in close touch and support with them as it relates to the broader illegal invasion by Russia. But I don’t have any additional updates here.
Michel.
[]QUESTION: Yeah, on Sudan. A couple weeks ago, a State Department official has said that the department is preparing or was preparing recommendations for the administration regarding the next steps in Sudan. Is there any update in this regard?
MR PATEL: We’ll continue considering all the tools at our disposal to stop the tragic, senseless, and devastating conflict that started and continues to be perpetuated by the SAF and the RSF, and we’ll continue to work with our partners to ensure that this is a coordinated and sustained process with direct pressure. I don’t have any updates on any forthcoming designations or actions, but we’ll continue to work through those processes and remain in close touch with our allies and partners as well.
[]QUESTION: And two more, one on Syria. Any updates on the talks with the Syrian regime in Oman?
MR PATEL: So broadly speaking, we are engaging extensively to try and get Austin Tice home. We have pursued every channel we can to seek his safe return to his family, and we’ll continue to do so. This includes discussing the case with a number of countries in the region, and we’ll continue to work at this until we see a safe return to the United States. As President Biden has said before and as has the Secretary, we are not ceasing our efforts to find Austin Tice and bring him home.
QUESTION: Some people say that the talks include political and other topics too, not only Austin Tice.
MR PATEL: As I’ve – you’ve heard me directly say before, the U.S. is willing to engage with anyone who can help secure progress toward the release of U.S. nationals. In order to protect these various avenues, I’m not going to get into specifics of diplomatic discussions. But we are willing to talk to whomever necessary to accomplish that goal, and that certainly does not signal a broader change in our relationship. And you’ve heard me speak about our vision and our viewpoint on the conflict in Syria and what we view as an appropriate resolution, and that is one of course – one that is consistent with the UN Security Council Resolution 2254.
[]QUESTION: Any update on the talks with Iran in Oman too?
MR PATEL: Do you have a specific question there, Michel?
QUESTION: Are you still talking to them about the nuclear deal, about the prisoners and other things?
MR PATEL: What I will say is that broadly we continue to remain in close touch with allies and partners, including in the region, about the various areas of concern that we have with Iran. I will note that rumors about a nuclear deal, interim or otherwise, are false and misleading. And we’ll continue to remain focused on constraining Iran’s destabilizing behavior through diplomatic pressure, close coordination with our allies and partners, and de-escalation steps in the region as well.
We also, on detainees, continue to work to bring home the American citizens that are wrongfully detained in Iran. I unfortunately don’t have an update for you, but it’s something that we will continue to work for tirelessly. Iran’s wrongful detention of U.S. citizens, including for the use of political leverage, is absolutely outrageous, and we’ll continue to be committed to securing the freedom of all U.S. citizens.
Said.
QUESTION: Thank you. Switching topics.
MR PATEL: Sure.
QUESTION: But first, Eid Mubarak to all those celebrating.
MR PATEL: Eid Mubarak to all celebrating.
[]QUESTION: According to Haaretz, both the former secretary general of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon and former UNHCR Mary Robinson, who was also the former president of Ireland, concluded their visits last week to both Israel and the West Bank, and they have concluded that Israel is drifting into apartheid, that the government is driving Jewish supremacy. So I wonder if you are aware of these reports or if you have seen them and if you have any comment on this. Do you agree with their assessment?
MR PATEL: So I will let the representatives from the UN speak to and clarify their own comments, Said, but I will reiterate that that is not a term that we have used to describe Israel’s actions. And broadly, we continue to work towards a negotiated two-state solution along the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps. The international community has also worked tirelessly toward this goal, and the United States along with our international partners are going to continue to pursue this. We continue to believe that it’s important to advance equal measures of justice, of freedom, of dignity, and those are important means to advance a negotiated two-state solution.
QUESTION: One other issue. Today the – Secretary Blinken said that the continuing violence hinders any efforts to sort of normalize between Saudi Arabia and Israel, or efforts at normalizing between – and he’s citing the violence that is happening. He cited of course settlements, the violence, the sectoral violence and so on. But then you know we are looking at four months after the attack on Huwara, the village, fourth months ago and so on, and nothing really has happened. No one has been prosecuted.
So other than expressing these sentiments, I mean, it’s the same old question. So what can the U.S. do to make sure that those perpetrators are brought to justice?
MR PATEL: Said, the Secretary and this department have been unambiguous on this issue. The United States continues to be deeply concerned by the rising trend of extremist settler violence. We unequivocally condemn all acts of extremist violence, whether it be by Israelis or Palestinians.
To your question though, accountability and justice should be pursued with equal rigor in all cases of extremist violence. In the case of Huwara, we welcome the IDF’s condemnation of these acts and expect the Israeli Government to ensure full accountability for those responsible for those attacks, including legal action and restitution of lost homes and properties as they deem appropriate. And we regularly raise this issue broadly with our Israeli counterparts.
Israeli security officials themselves have characterized this violence as national terrorism. We very much welcome steps that are being taken, Said, including the June 25th joint statement by top Israeli security officials condemning extremist settler violence against Palestinian citizens. And we equally welcome similar statements made by Defense Minister Gallant yesterday, including his commitment to hold perpetrators accountable under the law.
Anything else before we move away?
QUESTION: On Israel.
MR PATEL: Go ahead, Simon.
QUESTION: Yeah, the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said he’s been invited to China. I wonder sort of in the context of that and the visit by the Palestinian Authority president as well to China, do you see China playing – potentially playing a role in securing peace in the Middle East?
MR PATEL: So, Simon, to take a step back, as Secretary Blinken and others in this department have said, countries can have a relationship with the PRC just as we do. And we expect the Netanyahu government and the prime minister to raise issues of their interest and of mutual concern on a potential visit to Beijing. I of course will let them speak to any of their own forthcoming travel.
What I will say though is that – what I can speak about is the United States. And the United States is going to continue to remain deeply engaged in the region, both as it relates to continuing to pursue and advocate and push for and work with the parties directly as it relates to a negotiated two-state solution, but also in – when it comes to regional integration and normalization as well. That continues to not only be a priority for this administration but also a direct priority for the Government of Israel and the government of – governments of many of our regional partners also.
QUESTION: And there’s still no invite for the prime minister to come here?
MR PATEL: So the White House has spoken to any potential invites for Prime Minister Netanyahu. I certainly wouldn’t speak to any updates on that from here and don’t have any to share, and so would just refer you to them to speak to any forthcoming visits. What I can say though is that we engage and talk with our Israeli counterparts and our Israeli partners directly. You just saw the Secretary spoke with Foreign Minister Cohen. Assistant Secretary Leaf was recently in the region directly engaging with our Israeli partners. Ambassador Nides also continues to talk to his counterparts. We talk to the members of the Israeli mission here in D.C. as well as throughout the United States. We continue to engage on these issues directly.
QUESTION: It wouldn’t be concerning to you if like your – your major ally in the region, prime minister of your major ally in the region, went to China before coming here?
MR PATEL: I think it’s important to not get caught up in things like sequencing and choreographics like that, and it’s more important to stay focus on the substance of the issues. And the substance of the issues are that we are in direct contact and engagement directly with our Israeli partners, and we have a number of issues at the nexus of our relationship that we look forward to continuing to engage on bilaterally.
Anything else on this before moving away?
QUESTION: On Syria.
MR PATEL: Leon’s had his hand up. I’ll come to you after that. Go ahead.
QUESTION: Moving away —
MR PATEL: Yeah.
[]QUESTION: — to another region, Armenia-Azerbaijan.
MR PATEL: Sure.
QUESTION: There was an incident – a serious incident today – for Armenian soldiers who were killed. What is your take on that? And second, of course since there are talks which are ongoing here, are they suspended or will they continue as planned until tomorrow, or does this incident impact those talks in any way?
MR PATEL: So first let me say – and thank you for raising this, Leon – we are deeply disturbed by the loss of life in Nagorno-Karabakh, and we offer our condolences to the families of all of those who were killed. These latest incidents underscore the need to refrain from hostilities and for a durable and dignified peace.
The U.S. is committed to assisting the parties in achieving this goal, and Secretary Blinken is directly engaged in the peace process. Direct dialogue is key to resolving issues and reaching a durable and dignified peace. Yesterday’s meetings with the foreign ministers were constructive, and we continue to build on those discussions today and tomorrow as the peace talks continue. So there’s no change in the schedule, Leon. This is going to be something that we’re going to continue to work on.
QUESTION: Can I just follow up that, Vedant?
MR PATEL: Sure.