The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke today with French MFA Secretary General Francois Delattre, German MFA State Secretary Andreas Michaelis, Italian MFA Secretary General Ettore Sequi, and UK Minister of State for Europe and North America James Cleverly. Deputy Secretary Sherman and her counterparts condemned the Russian Federation’s decision to recognize the so-called “Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics” as “independent.” They expressed unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and a strong commitment to transatlantic unity. The Deputy Secretary and her counterparts underscored that Russia’s flagrant disregard for international law demands a severe response from the international community and agreed to coordinate closely on next steps, including massive additional economic sanctions, should Russia continue to escalate its aggression against Ukraine. They highlighted their continuing commitment to diplomacy, while reiterating that progress can only be made in an environment of de-escalation.