You're reading: Hammer: U.S. priorities on Ukraine are free elections and Tymoshenko’s release

The U.S. Department of State has confirmed its priorities with respect to Ukraine, in particular, free and fair parliamentary elections and the release of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Mike Hammer announced this on
Thursday during a Web conference on U.S. foreign policy priorities,
while answering a question from Interfax-Ukraine.

Noting that the question of Ukraine, as well as that of Georgia, was
recently discussed at a meeting of EU and NATO ministers, he said that
the United States was working with its European partners, calling on the
Ukrainian authorities to ensure that the elections in Ukraine are held
transparently, freely and fairly, and helping the Ukrainian people
choose their future leaders.

Hammer also cited the example of the recent parliamentary elections
in Georgia. He said that the elections in Georgia helped the people
elect their leaders and that Ukraine should look what its neighbor is
doing, and see how to ensure that this also happens in Ukraine.

He also reiterated the U.S. position on former Prime Minister Yulia
Tymoshenko. He said that the United States is concerned that Tymoshenko
remains in custody and that she should be released from prison, because,
in his opinion, the current situation does not favor the climate of the
election campaign.