Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman delivered a speech at the Inaugural Meeting of the Renewed OSCE European Security Dialogue. Among other topics, she also talked about Georgia.

“If the Russian Federation believes - as we do - that it has an inherent right to sovereignty and security, those very same rights must exist equally for Moldova, for Georgia, and for Ukraine. This is not the first time Russia has taken actions that are inconsistent with their OSCE commitments. It was Russia that invaded Ukraine in 2014 and occupies Crimea to this day. It was Russia that invaded Georgia in 2008 and continues to illegally occupy 20 percent of Georgian territory. It is Russia that maintains a military presence in Moldova against the wishes of the Moldovan government, and in contradiction of its OSCE commitments.

These actions harm the security of Ukraine, the security of Georgia, and the security of Moldova. They violate international law. They threaten the cherished vision of a Europe that is free, whole, and at peace. If Russia can invade other countries with impunity, that undermines the very concept of indivisibility of security that Russia is now invoking. The simple fact is that the only durable path to building shared security runs through diplomacy and dialogue, not confrontation and conflict”, - said Wendy R. Sherman.