Trump Secretary of State Nominee To Say Russia Must Be Held To Account
President-elect Donald Trump's choice for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, will express concerns about Russia's actions around the globe and insist that NATO should be alarmed by a resurgent Moscow when he faces a Senate confirmation hearing on January 11.
Trump's transition team circulated the text of the opening statement Tillerson plans to give during the hearing.
According to the text, he will explain why Trump favors a closer relationship with Russia.
But his comments expressing concerns about Russia appear to run counter to Trump's expressed views on the need for better ties with that country.
"Our NATO allies are right to be alarmed at a resurgent Russia," Tillerson will say, while also taking a hit at the Obama administration. "But it was in the absence of American leadership that this door was left open and unintended signals were sent."
"While Russia seeks respect and relevance on the global stage, its recent activities have disregarded American interests," he will testify. "Russia must know that we will be accountable to our commitments and those of our allies and that Russia must be held to account for its actions."
Based on reporting by Reuters and the Washington Post
Canada Appoints Russia Critic Sanctioned By Moscow As Foreign Minister
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on January 10 appointed Chrystia Freeland, a critic of Russia who has been sanctioned by Moscow, as the country's new top diplomat.
Freeland, who is of Ukrainian descent, has been a harsh critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Moscow barred Freeland from entering Russia in 2014 as part of a series of retaliatory sanctions against Canada in response to Ottawa's blacklisting of many Russian officials to punish the country for its illegal annexation of Crimea.
Freeland tweeted afterward: "It's an honor to be on Putin's sanction list."
In 2015, she wrote an article for Quartz magazine titled My Ukraine, And Putin's Big Lie.
Trudeau, in announcing Freeland's appointment as foreign affairs minister, sidestepped a question from reporters over whether her rocky relationship with Russia would have an impact.
Freeland, who once lived in Moscow during her career as a financial correspondent, said that whether she will be able to travel to Russia as foreign minister was not up to her.
"That's a question for Moscow," she said. "I am a very strong supporter of our government's view that it is important to engage with all countries around the world, very much including Russia."
Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters
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