REUTERS

When asked at a briefing in Kyiv during her visit to Ukraine on July 16 about a deal with Iran "in exchange" for giving up the Iranian nuclear program and about alleged agreement between the U.S. and Russian President Vladimir Putin on trading Iran for Ukraine, she said: "I have to say that I find the question offensive, the United States is not in the business of trading one thing for another in its international relations."

Speaking about the international community's efforts to resolve the Iranian issue, Nuland said the United States was pleased that it was able with its allies, with China and with the European Union, to cooperate with Russia in reaching the historic agreement with Iran.

 

"We don't judge that Russia did this as a favor to the United States or anybody else. It did it because its own interests were served by ensuring that Iran doesn't get a nuclear weapon, at the same time, as you know, we continue to have very tough difficult conversations with Russia about Ukraine," Nuland said.

She also stated that the United States had made its position absolutely clear and that it "expects not only Ukraine but obviously Russia to live up to its obligations under the Minsk Agreement, including its obligations to ensure that there is a full ceasefire, there is a full exchange of hostages, there is a full withdrawal of weapons and foreign forces, and that the borders are returned to Ukraine," Nuland said.

Earlier, the press service of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine informed that during her visit to Kyiv on July 15-16 Nuland had met with the leadership of the country, politicians and businessmen, representatives of civil society to discuss a package of bilateral and regional issues.