#Hagel, #Ukrainian Minister Discuss #Russian Aid Convoy

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2014 - Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel today spoke via telephone with Ukrainian Minister of Defense Valeriy Heletey and discussed Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu's recent remarks noting that the Russian aid convoy to Ukraine was not a military intervention, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said in a statement.
Kirby's statement reads as follows:

"Secretary Hagel spoke today by phone with Ukrainian Minister of Defense Valeriy Heletey.

"Secretary Hagel relayed Minister Shoygu's recent remarks on the Russian aid convoy, and Minister Shoygu's "guarantee" that the aid convoy was not a military intervention. Secretary Hagel conveyed that he told Minister Shoygu Russia's vehicles and forces along the border continued to escalate tensions and stressed that any discussions about potential ceasefire agreements must include Ukraine.

"Minister Heletey reported increased violence in Ukraine's east as a result of Russia's ongoing supply of weapons and personnel into Ukraine, and spoke about recent attacks in which innocent civilians were killed and wounded.

"Finally, Secretary Hagel and Minister Heletey discussed the status of ongoing deliveries of United States military assistance to Ukraine. Minister Heletey thanked the secretary for the continued assistance of the United States."

Statement from Pentagon Press Secretary RADM John Kirby on Attempted Rescue Operation

Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. Kirby provided the following statement:

The United States attempted a rescue operation recently to free a number of American hostages held in Syria by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). This operation involved air and ground components and was focused on a particular captor network within ISIL. Unfortunately, the mission was not successful because the hostages were not present at the targeted location.

As we have said repeatedly, the United States government is committed to the safety and well-being of its citizens, particularly those suffering in captivity. In this case, we put the best of the United States military in harms' way to try and bring our citizens home.
The United States government uses the full breadth of our military, intelligence and diplomatic capabilities to bring people home whenever we can. The United States will not tolerate the abduction of our people, and will work tirelessly to secure the safety of our citizens and to hold their captors accountable

Pentagon Provides Statement on Rescue Operation

Pentagon Provides Statement on Rescue Operation DoD News, Defense Media Activity The United States attempted a rescue operation recently to free a number of American hostages held in Syria by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said in a statement released today. The mission was not successful because the hostages were not present at the targeted location, Kirby said in the statement. He added that the U.S. government will not tolerate the abduction of its people and will work tirelessly to secure the safety of its citizens and to hold their captors accountable. Kirby's statement reads as follows: "The United States attempted a rescue operation recently to free a number of American hostages held in Syria by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). This operation involved air and ground components and was focused on a particular captor network within ISIL. Unfortunately, the mission was not successful because the hostages were not present at the targeted location. "As we have said repeatedly, the United States government is committed to the safety and well-being of its citizens, particularly those suffering in captivity. In this case, we put the best of the United States military in harms' way to try and bring our citizens home. "The United States government uses the full breadth of our military, intelligence and diplomatic capabilities to bring people home whenever we can. The United States will not tolerate the abduction of our people, and will work tirelessly to secure the safety of our citizens and to hold their captors accountable."